Proposal to list haemodialysis products supplied by Defries Industries New Zealand Limited

Hospital devices Consultation Closed

What we’re proposing

PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list a range of haemodialysis equipment and products (“Haemodialysis Products”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 December 2018, through a provisional agreement with Defries Industries New Zealand Ltd (“Defries”).

Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday, 12 October 2018 and feedback can be emailed to denise.mundy@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 December 2018, Defries’ range of haemodialysis products would be listed under the proposed national agreement that all DHBs may purchase under (“Agreement”).

The Agreement would not be for sole supply, with DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of Haemodialysis Products.

This Agreement would supersede any existing DHB contracts with the Defries for the Haemodialysis Products included in the Agreement.  Any Haemodialysis Products listed in the Agreement and purchased by a DHB would be at the price, terms and conditions stated in the Agreement, effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

PHARMAC estimates that the Defries Agreement could offer DHBs some savings based on current usage if these products are unbundled from the current arrangements with other suppliers. The Agreement includes products that are new to DHBs and would provide a greater range of products for clinicians to choose from.

Who we think will be interested

  • DHB Staff
    • Renal Dialysis staff
    • Procurement Officers
    • Users of haemodialysis products
  • Suppliers

About haemodialysis products

Haemodialysis uses a machine with an artificial kidney to filter waste products and excess fluid from the blood.  It is used to treat patients with acute and chronic renal failure.

Haemodialysis for acute renal failure is generally performed in hospital settings until such time as the patient’s kidneys recover.

Patients with chronic renal failure, the leading cause of which is diabetes,  require treatment several times a week on an ongoing basis.  Haemodialysis for chronic renal failure is performed in a range of hospital and community settings with some patients performing haemodialysis in their homes.

Why we’re proposing this

In February 2018, PHARMAC issued a  Request for Proposals ("RFP") for the supply of haemodialysis equipment and products

The RFP was for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

PHARMAC has been working with suppliers to seek provisional agreements and this is the first proposal to arise from that process. We expect to consult on further proposed agreements for the supply of Haemodialysis Products over the next few months.

Details about our proposal

PHARMAC has entered into a provisional Agreement with Defries for the supply of Haemodialysis Products to DHBs, that includes a range of Defries Industry brand customised procedure packs.

The proposal would result in listing 15 haemodialysis customised procedure packs on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Pricing and full list of products has been made available to Procurement Departments at DHBs.

To provide feedback

Send us an email: denise.mundy@pharmac.govt.nz by 5pm on Friday 12 October 2018.

All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by PHARMAC’s Board (or its delegate) prior to making a decision on this proposal.

Feedback we receive is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and we will consider any request to have information withheld in accordance with our obligations under the OIA. Anyone providing feedback, whether on their own account or on behalf of an organisation, and whether in a personal or professional capacity, should be aware that the content of their feedback and their identity may need to be disclosed in response to an OIA request.

We are not able to treat any part of your feedback as confidential unless you specifically request that we do, and then only to the extent permissible under the OIA and other relevant laws and requirements. If you would like us to withhold any commercially sensitive, confidential proprietary, or personal information included in your submission, please clearly state this in your submission and identify the relevant sections of your submission that you would like it withheld. PHARMAC will give due consideration to any such request.