Proposal to list medical devices
PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list medical devices in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 April 2019.
What we’re proposing
PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list medical devices in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 April 2019.
We propose to list medical devices supplied by:
| Supplier | Category of Medical Device |
|---|---|
| 3M New Zealand Limited (“3M”) |
|
| Big Green Surgical Company (“Big Green Surgical”) |
|
| Mӧlnlycke Health Care Pty Ltd (“Mӧlnlycke”) |
|
| New Zealand Medical & Scientific Limited (“NZMS”) |
|
| W M Bamford & Co Limited (“W M Bamford”) |
|
Consultation closes at 4pm on Monday 18 February 2019 and feedback can be emailed to alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz.
What would the effect be?
From 1 April 2019 medical devices in the categories identified in the table above would be listed under proposed national agreements for all DHB Hospitals to purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by PHARMAC’s Board or delegate (“Agreements”).
The Agreements would not be for sole supply. DHBs could continue to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices, patient warming and cooling products and respiratory care products.
The Agreements would supersede any existing DHB contracts with 3M, Big Green Surgical, Mӧlnlycke, NZMS and W M Bamford for the devices included in the Agreements. Any medical device listed in the Agreements and purchased by a DHB would be at the price, terms and conditions stated in the Agreements, effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
PHARMAC estimates that the 3M and Big Green Surgical proposals would offer national savings to DHBs of $16,000 and $205,000 per annum respectively, based on current usage. The Mӧlnlycke proposal would offer minimal savings, the W M Bamford proposal is essentially cost neutral and the NZMS proposal would result in a minimal cost increase, based on current usage.
As part of the Agreements individual agreements each of the five suppliers would provide appropriate educational services that would be tailored to the individual needs of DHBs, in formats and at times as required by DHBs.
Pricing for the medical devices in the Agreements, subject to any prior termination of the Agreements, would not be increased without prior consultation and approval by PHARMAC.
Who we think will be interested
- Suppliers and Wholesalers
- DHB Staff
- Clinical Engineers
- Anaesthetists and Anaesthetic Technicians
- Clinical staff involved with airway management and emergency respiratory resuscitation
- ICU clinicians
- Perioperative clinicians
- Pulmonary function specialists
- Pulmonary rehabilitation specialists
- Respiratory clinicians
- Respiratory therapists
- DHB procurement and warehousing personnel
About the medical devices
Endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices
Endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices are used in a vast range of surgical specialties and procedures. Many have been specifically designed to be used for minimally invasive surgical techniques whilst others are only used in open surgery procedures. Some require power sources or other equipment to perform their function.
The endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices category encompasses the product ranges of endomechanical instruments, electrosurgical instruments, energy platforms and their associated consumable products. This covers both disposable and re-usable options, as well as the portable power sources or other equipment that specific instruments may require to be functional.
Patient warming and cooling products
Patient warming and cooling products are used to assist regulating a patient’s core body temperature when a patient is unable to self-regulate their body temperature. Patient warming and cooling products are commonly used in surgical and intensive care clinical settings.
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 2017 and 2018 PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals (“RFPs”) for endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices, patient warming and cooling products and respiratory care products. These RFPs were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
PHARMAC has been working with suppliers who responded to the RFPs to seek provisional agreements and these proposals are the latest to arise from those processes. We expect to consult on further proposed agreements with suppliers of endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices, patient warming and cooling products and respiratory care products over the next coming months.
Details about our proposal
The proposal would result in the following Pharmaceutical Schedule listings:
| Supplier and category | Brands | Line items |
|---|---|---|
|
3M – endomechanical and electrosurgical |
3M |
7 |
|
3M – patient warming and cooling products |
Bair Hugger Ranger |
46 |
|
Big Green Surgical – endomechanical and electrosurgical |
Alimtype Crystal Vision Elite Fog Guard PMI electrode PMI Lletz Loop See Clear Tornado ULPA FILTER |
48
|
|
Mӧlnlycke – endomechanical and electrosurgical |
Mӧlnlycke |
59 |
|
Mӧlnlycke – patient warming and cooling products |
BARRIER Easywarm |
2 |
|
NZMS – patient warming and cooling products |
Criticool CureWrap Thermowrap |
48 |
|
W M Bamford – endomechanical and electrosurgical |
Albert Nubert Nubert Plus Nubert DS |
5 |
|
W M Bamford – patient warming and cooling |
HotDog |
25 |
|
W M Bamford – respiratory care products |
Tracoe care Tracoe comfort Tracoe larynx Tracoe mini Tracoe percutan Tracoe technic Tracoe twist Tracoe vario |
178 |
Pricing has been made available to appropriate DHB personnel.
To provide feedback
Send us an email: alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm 18 February 2019.
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.