Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Intermed Medical Limited

Hospital devices Consultation Closed

What we’re proposing

PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list a range of medical devices in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2018, through a provisional agreement with Intermed Medical Limited (“Intermed”):

  • anaesthesia small equipment and consumable devices (“anaesthesia products”);
  • interventional radiology products;
  • medical thermometers; and
  • single use instruments.

Consultation closes at 4pm on Friday, 1 June 2018 and feedback can be emailed to alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 August 2018, Intermed’s range of anaesthesia products, interventional radiology products, medical thermometers and single use instruments, would be listed under the proposed national agreement for all DHBs to purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by PHARMAC’s Board or delegate (“Agreement”).

This Agreement would not be for sole supply, with DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of anaesthesia products, interventional radiology products, medical thermometers and single use instruments.

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

PHARMAC estimates the national financial impact of this Agreement, across all DHBs, would be $16,000 savings per annum, based on current usage levels.

As part of the Agreement, Intermed would provide educational services that would be tailored to the individual needs of DHB Hospitals, in formats and at times as required by DHB Hospitals.

Pricing for the 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:
    • Anaesthesia, respiratory and resuscitation staff
    • Interventional radiology staff
    • Staff in clinical areas where thermometers are used, including inpatient, outpatient and community settings
    • Staff in clinical areas where single use instruments are used, including theatre, procedural areas, and emergency departments
    • Clinical Engineers
    • Procurement and supply chain personnel

About the proposed medical devices

Anaesthesia products

Anaesthesia products are integral to the delivery of anaesthesia to patients in operating theatres. This includes airway visualisation devices, stand-alone depth of anaesthesia monitoring systems and medical devices used for the purpose of acute airway management and delivery of anaesthesia gas. Some of these devices are also used for airway management and emergency respiratory resuscitation and as such may also be used by clinicians other than anaesthetists.

Interventional radiology products

Interventional radiology refers to a range of minimally invasive alternatives to open surgery to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions in nearly every organ system, that are performed using 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.

Medical thermometers

Medical thermometers are used to measure a patient’s body temperature. The ability to detect or monitor fever or hypothermia is vital in patient assessment, to guide treatment options and management. The accurate measurement of temperature is important and medical thermometer products come in a range of presentations for different clinical requirements.

Single use instruments

Single use instruments are designed to be used once and then disposed of or destroyed and are also known as disposable instruments. Single use instruments may be used in many hospital settings such as operating theatres, emergency departments, wards and clinics.

Why we’re proposing this 

PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals (“RFPs”) for non-exclusive national agreements for listing in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

PHARMAC has been working with suppliers to seek provisional agreements and this proposal is the latest 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 Intermed for a range of anaesthesia products, interventional radiology products, medical thermometers and single use instruments. Pricing has been made available to appropriate DHB personnel.

This proposal would result in Schedule listings for 213 anaesthesia products, 911 interventional radiology products, 15 medical thermometers and 29 single use instruments.

Brand ranges in the Agreement include:

Category

Brand

Anaesthesia products

Alterna, BiteStrong, Callisto, Clear Guard, Clear-Therm, Clear-Therm Micro, Clear-Therm Midi, Clear-Therm Mini, Compact, Economy, Hsiner Co Ltd, Hydro-Guard, I-Gel, Intersurgical Ltd, Inter-Therm, Quadralite, Sirius, Solus, Spherasorb, Uniflow, XLED

Interventional Radiology products

Angioguard RX, Aquatrack, ATW, Aviator Plus, BasixCompack, BasixTouch, Brite Tip, DrySeal Flex, Emerald, EN Snare, Excluder, Fountain, Gore C3, Gore Excluder, Gore Tri-Lobe, Gore Tigris, Gore Viabahn, Gore Viabahn with Propaten, H2O, Impress, Infiniti, Quick Care Infiniti, Inqwire, Jindo, Laureate, Maestro, Maxi LD, Mynxgrip, Outback Elite, Palmaz, Palmaz Blue, Palmaz Genesis, Palmaz Genesis on Opta Pro, Performa, Powerflex, Precise Pro RX, Prelude, ReSolve, Shinobi, S.M.A.R.T., S.M.A.R.T. Flex, Storq, Super Torque Plus, SV, Tag, Tag Active Control, Tempo, Tempo Aqua, Uniever

Medical thermometers

Crystaline II, Shore Medical, TAT 5000

Single use instruments

Medgyn, NeoZoline

To provide feedback

Send us an email: alyssa.currie@pharmac.govt.nz by Friday 1 June 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.