Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited

Hospital devices Consultation Closed

What we’re proposing

Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to list electrophysiology equipment and consumable medical devices in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 May 2025 supplied by Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited (“J&J”).

Consultation closes at 4 pm, Friday 28 March 2025 and feedback can be emailed to alishba.ali@pharmac.govt.nz.  

What would the effect be?

From 1 May 2025, medical devices supplied by J&J in the electrophysiology equipment and consumables category would be listed under a proposed national agreement for all Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (“Health NZ”) 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 Health NZ hospitals could continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of electrophysiology equipment and consumables.

The Agreement would supersede any existing Health NZ contracts with J&J for the products included in the Agreement. Any medical devices listed in the Agreement and purchased by Health NZ hospitals 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.

Who we think will be interested

  • Health NZ staff in a range of different clinical settings including but not limited to:
    • Emergency service personnel
    • General ward clinicians and nurses
    • Cardiac service managers
    • Cardiac surgeons
    • Cardiologists
    • Cardiology unit staff
  • Procurement and supply chain personnel
  • Suppliers and wholesalers

About these medical devices

Electrophysiology equipment and consumables are used to diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat conditions. Medical devices used in electrophysiology suites range from software mapping and ablation tools through to catheters and electrodes.

Why we’re proposing this

In September 2020, Pharmac issued a Registration of Interest (“ROI”) for ranges of medical devices, including electrophysiology equipment and consumables, considered for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

This ROI was undertaken to transfer the responsibility for management of products in a range of categories from New Zealand Health Partnerships, now part of Health NZ, to Pharmac. The ROI was for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Details about our proposal

The proposal would result in listing 279 medical devices from the brand JJM Electrophysiology supplied by J&J in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

To provide feedback

Send us an email: alishba.ali@pharmac.govt.nz by 4 pm, Friday 28 March 2025.

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.

Your feedback may be shared

When you give feedback on a consultation, your feedback becomes official information that Pharmac holds. Pharmac has legal responsibilities for how we manage this official information, under laws such as the Official Information Act and Privacy Act.

Pharmac may receive a request from people for official information, which could include your feedback. Legally, Pharmac must consider whether your feedback should be released.

We will consider your views when assessing whether the feedback has to be released. Tell us if there is anything about your feedback that you would prefer wasn’t released.

If your feedback is proposed for release, then Pharmac will contact you, unless there is a legal reason that we can't.

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