Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Cubro Limited

We propose to list medical devices supplied by Cubro Limited in the following categories:

• non-invasive ventilation equipment and associated products ("NIV products"); and
• rehabilitation equipment, patient positioning products and supports ("rehabilitation products").

Consultation closes at 4pm Tuesday 6 October 2020 and feedback can be emailed to alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 December 2020 NIV products and rehabilitation products supplied by Cubro would be listed under a proposed national agreement for all DHB hospitals to purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by PHARMAC’s board or delegate (“Agreement”).

The Agreement would not be for sole supply and DHBs can continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of NIV products and rehabilitation products.

The Agreement would supersede any existing DHB agreements with Cubro for the medical devices included in the Agreement. Any medical device listed in the Agreement and purchased by a DHB would be in accordance with the terms and conditions, including price, stated in the Agreement effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

As part of the Agreement Cubro 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 Agreement, subject to any prior termination of the Agreement, would not be increased without prior consultation and approval by PHARMAC.

Who we think will be interested

• Suppliers and wholesalers
• DHB staff:
  • Clinical engineers and maintenance services
  • Clinical staff in a range of inpatient, outpatient and community settings where NIV Products are used
  • DHB procurement and supply chain
  • Geriatricians
  • Neurologists and Neurosurgeons
  • Nurses
  • Occupational therapists
  • Orthopaedic surgeons
  • Orthotists
  • Paediatricians
  • Physiotherapists
  • Podiatrists
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation specialists
  • Rehabilitation physicians (including spinal units)
  • Respiratory and sleep clinic specialists and support personnel
  • Speech-language therapists

About the medical devices

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) products

NIV products are used to assist people with a wide range of airway and breathing related illnesses, that are often long-term in nature, in both hospital and community settings. Non-invasive ventilation therapy is a patient ventilation treatment that supports breathing without the need for intubation or surgical airways, and can be delivered through positive pressure or negative pressure modalities.

PHARMAC’s NIV products category includes positive and negative pressure ventilation devices, oxygen concentration devices and respiratory gas humidifiers and their associated consumables and accessories. A wide range of clinicians and support people can be involved with  these therapies, including respiratory physicians, general physicians, respiratory nurses, respiratory therapists, pulmonary rehabilitation specialists, sleep therapists, nurses across many areas, and people in the community.

Rehabilitation products

Rehabilitation is the process of regaining strength or relearning skills after a serious injury, illness or surgery. Rehabilitation crosses all age groups, though the type, level and goals of rehabilitation will differ depending on the individual needs. Rehabilitation often focuses on:

• physical therapy to help with strength, mobility and fitness;
• occupational therapy to help with daily activities;
• speech-language therapy to help with speaking, understanding, reading, writing and swallowing;
• cognitive therapy (following head injury); and
• treatment of pain.

Why we’re proposing this

In 2018 PHARMAC issued requests for proposals (RFPs) for:

• supply of non-invasive ventilation equipment and associated products; and
• supply of rehabilitation equipment, patient positioning products and supports.

The RFPs were for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

PHARMAC has been working with suppliers who responded to the RFPs, and proposals were progressed to contract negotiation, to seek provisional agreements. This proposal is the latest to arise from these processes and we expect to consult on further provisional agreements with suppliers of NIV products and rehabilitation products throughout 2020.

Details about our proposal

The proposal would result in listing 811 products supplied by Cubro in the Pharmaceutical Schedule covering the following ranges:

Further information, including pricing and contractual details, has been provided to DHB procurement personnel. Clinicians interested in further detail on what this change means for their DHB should engage with their procurement teams. 

To provide feedback

Send us an email:  alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm Tuesday 6 October 2020.

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.