Proposal to list medical devices supplied by Teleflex Medical New Zealand

What we’re proposing

PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list a range of respiratory products and a range of endomechanical and electrosurgical products in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2019 through provisional agreements with Teleflex Medical New Zealand (“Teleflex”).

Consultation closes at 4pm on Wednesday, 21 August 2019 and feedback can be emailed to josh.wiles@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

From 1 October 2019, Teleflex’s ranges of respiratory products and endomechanical and electrosurgical products would be listed under national agreements (“Agreements”) that all DHBs may purchase under, subject to approval by PHARMAC’s Board or delegate.

The Agreements would not be for sole supply, with DHBs continuing to be able to purchase other suppliers’ brands of respiratory products and endomechanical and electrosurgical products.

The Agreements would supersede any existing DHB contracts with this supplier for the devices listed in Schedule 1 of the Agreement. Any device listed in a PHARMAC Agreement and purchased by a DHB would be at the price, terms and conditions stated in the Agreement, effective from the date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

As part of the Agreement, Teleflex would provide training and education that would be tailored to the needs of the individuals DHBs.

Who we think will be interested

• Suppliers and wholesalers
• Clinical and non-clinical DHB staff:
  • Clinical staff involved with airway management and emergency respiratory resuscitation
  • Clinicians
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Clinical/Biomedical Engineers
  • Sterile services staff
  • Perioperative staff
  • Outpatient clinic staff
  • Procurement and supply chain staff

About the medical devices

Respiratory medical devices

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.

Endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices

Endomechanical and electrosurgical medical devices are used in a large range of surgical specialties and procedures. Many have been specifically designed to be used for minimally invasive surgical techniques, with others used only 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.

Why we’re proposing this

PHARMAC issued Request for Proposals (“RFP’s”) for:

• Supply of respiratory equipment and consumables (including respiratory suction) and
• Supply of endomechanical instruments, electrosurgical instruments, energy platforms and consumable products.

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

PHARMAC has been working with suppliers in order to seek provisional agreements and these are the latest proposals to arise from those processes. We intend to consult on further agreements with other suppliers in both categories over the coming months.

Details about our proposal

PHARMAC has entered into provisional agreements with Teleflex for the supply of respiratory products and endomechanical and electrosurgical products. This proposal would result in listing 64 respiratory products and 61 endomechanical and electrosurgical products.

The brands included in the Agreements are:

Pricing and full product lists have been made available to appropriate DHB personnel.

To provide feedback

Send us an email:  josh.wiles@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm on Wednesday, 21 August 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.