Proposal to list Interventional Radiology and respiratory products from Getz Healthcare Ltd

Hospital devices Consultation Closed

What we’re proposing

PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list a range of interventional radiology and respiratory care products in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2018 through a provisional agreement with Getz Healthcare Ltd (‘Getz’).

Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday, 17 August 2018 and feedback can be emailed to sarah.penno@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 October 2018, Getz’s range of interventional radiology and respiratory care products would fall under a proposed national agreement (“Agreement”) that all DHBs may purchase under. The Agreement provides national consistency for these devices as the Price and Terms & Conditions stated in the Agreement apply to all DHB purchases from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

The Agreement would not be for sole supply, with DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of interventional radiology and respiratory care products.

This Agreement would supersede any existing DHB contract with the supplier for the devices listed in the Schedule 1 of the Agreements.  Any device listed in a PHARMAC 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 Getz proposal for interventional radiology devices will result in a small total cost increase across all DHBs, based on current usage.

The proposed respiratory care product (nose clips) are new to New Zealand DHBs and the Agreement would provide an increased range of nose clip products from which clinicians could choose.

Who we think will be interested

  • DHB Staff
    • Interventional Radiology staff
    • Respiratory Clinicians
    • Respiratory therapists
    • Pulmonary function specialists
    • Pulmonary rehabilitation specialists
    • Procurement officers and supply chain personnel
  • Suppliers and Wholesalers

About the proposed products

Interventional Radiology products

Interventional radiology refers to a range of minimally invasive alternatives to surgery to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions in nearly every organ system, that are performed using radiologic imaging guidance to precisely target the intervention. The procedures are performed using catheters inserted via either radial or femoral arteries or veins.

The imaging modalities used include general radiography including fluoroscopy, angiography, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Interventional radiology in some form is performed in all hospitals across New Zealand.

Respiratory Care Products

Respiratory care is a health specialty involving the diagnosis, assessment, treatment and management of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.

The Respiratory Care Category includes oxygen delivery consumables and accessories, aerosol delivery devices and associated consumables, non-powered humidifiers (passive and bubble) and associated tubing and consumables, laryngectomy and tracheostomy consumables, spirometers and respiratory muscle trainers and associated consumables, breathing filters, powered and non-powered respiratory suction devices and associated consumables, ventilator circuits and associated consumables and flow meters.

Why we’re proposing this

In September 2017 PHARMAC issued a Request for Proposals for interventional radiology products. In April 2017 PHARMAC issued a Request for Proposals for respiratory care products. The RFPs were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

PHARMAC has been working with suppliers in order to seek provisional agreements and this is the latest proposal to arise from these processes. We expect to consult on further proposed agreements in each of these categories over the coming months.

Details about our proposal

PHARMAC has entered into a provisional Agreement with Getz for a range of products. The exact product ranges and pricing in these proposals have not been included in this consultation for brevity. We are making the full list available to Procurement Departments at DHBs. Manufacturer’s ranges in the agreement are summarised below:

Category

Range of Manufacturers

Interventional Radiology

  • Angiodynamics
  • Chimed
  • Tsunami Medical
  • Vigeo
  • Balt/Balt Emboflu
  • BTG
  • Uresil LLC

Respiratory

  • Lemon Medical GmbH

To provide feedback

Send us an email: sarah.penno@pharmac.govt.nz by Friday 17 August 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.