Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Lohmann & Rauscher Limited

We propose to list medical devices in the following categories:

• rehabilitation equipment, patient positioning products and supports ("rehabilitation products"); and
• non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices.

Consultation closes at 5pm Thursday 30 July 2020 and feedback can be emailed to katie.brownless@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 September 2020, rehabilitation products and non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices, supplied by Lohmann & Rauscher, 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 could continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of products in these categories of devices.

The Agreement would supersede any existing DHB contracts with Lohmann & Rauscher for the products included in the Agreement. Any product 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.

Lohmann & Rauscher 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 devices in this 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

• DHB clinical staff in a range of different clinical settings inluding:
  
  • Ambulatory care
  • Perioperative care
  • Surgical and General Medical care
  • Intensive care
  • Clinical engineering and maintenance services
  • Infection control
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Anaesthetists
  • Rehabilitation physicians (including spinal units)
  • Allied Health staff
  • Nurses

• DHB procurement and supply chain personnel
• Suppliers and wholesalers

About the medical devices

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.

Infusion devices

Infusion devices are medical devices used, or associated with devices used, in the infusion of fluids such as medications, intravenous solutions (such as saline, glucose, and electrolyte solutions), blood, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions into the body. This includes medical devices used in intravenous therapy as well as other infusion therapies.

PHARMAC’s infusion devices category includes:

• non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices not associated with infusion equipment; and
• infusion equipment and associated devices.

Why we’re proposing this

In 2018 PHARMAC issued Requests for Proposals for:

• supply of rehabilitation equipment, patient positioning products and supports; and
• supply of infusion devices (including non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices and infusion equipment and associated devices).

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. These proposals are the latest to arise from this process and we expect to consult on further provisional agreements with suppliers of rehabilitation products, and non-dedicated and consumable infusion devices throughout 2020.

Details about our proposal

The proposal would result in listing 11 products in the Pharmaceutical Schedule from Lohmann & Rauscher.

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: katie.brownless@pharmac.govt.nz by 5pm Thursday 30 July 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.