Proposal to list negative pressure wound therapy products and iodosorb wound care ointment supplied by Smith & Nephew Limited
What we are proposing
PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list a range of negative pressure wound therapy equipment and consumables (“NPWT Products”) and iodosorb wound care ointment supplied by Smith & Nephew Limited (“Smith & Nephew”) in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, effective from 1 July 2018.
Consultation closes at 4 pm on Friday, 24 May 2018 and feedback can be emailed to denise.mundy@pharmac.govt.nz.
What would the effect be?
NPWT Products
From 1 July 2018, Smith & Nephew’s NPWT Products would be listed under a proposed national agreement that all DHBs may procure under, subject to consultation and approval by PHARMAC’s Board or delegate (“Agreement”).
DHBs would be able to continue to procure other suppliers’ brand of NPWT Products, as the Agreement would not be for sole supply.
Iodosorb ointment
From 1 July 2018, Iodosorb ointment 10 g would be added to Smith & Nephew’s national Woundcare listing agreement, subject to consultation and approval by PHARMAC’s Board or delegate.
Who we think will be interested
- Suppliers and wholesalers
- DHB Staff:
- Wound Care Clinicians
- Community Nursing Services
- Clinical Engineers
- Procurement Officers
About the products
NPWT
NPWT uses a vacuum dressing that can promote wound healing by drawing fluid away from the wound and increasing blood flow to the wound.
A NPWT system typically includes a disposable or reusable pump to create the vacuum, and associated consumable products to seal the wound and to manage excess fluid. A NPWT system may also include a mechanism to instil wound cleaning fluids.
NPWT can be used in both hospital and community settings.
Iodosorb ointment
Iodosorb ointment is an antimicrobial wound dressing in ointment form. It absorbs excess wound fluid and debris and slowly releases iodine as it swells.
Why we are proposing this
NPWT
In June 2017, a request for proposals (RFP) was issued for NPWT Products. The RFP requested proposals for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule under a range of procurement options including purchase, lease, rent, rent-to-buy and supplier provided equipment options.
PHARMAC has been working with a range of suppliers to seek provisional agreements and this proposal is the last to arise from that process.
Iodosorb ointment
Iodosorb sheet dressings and ointment dressing were included in Smith & Nephew’s original Woundcare proposal. Iodosorb sheet dressings were included in the resulting Woundcare agreement however the Iodosorb 10 g ointment dressing was not, as PHARMAC needed to confirm which part of the Pharmaceutical Schedule this type of product would be included in.
PHARMAC has confirmed that, based on the Pharmaceutical Schedule Rules, it would be appropriate to consider Smith & Nephew’s Iodosorb 10 g ointment dressing for listing in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Details about our proposal
NPWT
PHARMAC has entered into a provisional Agreement with Smith & Nephew for the supply of NPWT Products to DHBs that would result in listing 74 products in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, effective from 1 July 2018.
The provisional Agreement includes reusable NPWT Units, disposable NPWT Units, and associated consumables.
The reusable NPWT Units included in the Agreement are Renasys Touch and Renasys Go. Both reusable NPWT Units would be available under the following procurement options:
- Outright purchase
- Daily rental (supplier managed)
- Daily rental (DHB managed)
- Monthly rental
- Long term lease (12, 24 or 36 months)
- Lease to own (12, 24 or 36 months)
Brands of NPWT consumables (including disposable NPWT units) included in the Agreement are Renasys and PICO.
Pricing has not been included in this consultation but has been made available to Procurement Departments at DHBs.
DHBs would be able to continue to choose which NPWT Products they procure.
The Agreement includes terms for training and education services to be provided by Smith & Nephew to DHB personnel on appropriate use of its NPWT Products, which would be provided at times agreed with individual DHBs.
The Agreement sets out respective responsibilities for maintenance and management of equipment under the various procurement options.
Iodosorb ointment
PHARMAC has provisionally agreed to list Smith & Nephew’s Iodosorb 10 g ointment in the Woundcare category in Part III of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, effective from 1 July 2018.
Pricing has not been included in this consultation but has been made available to Procurement Managers at DHBs.
To provide feedback
Send an email to denise.mundy@pharmac.govt.nz by 4 pm, Friday 24 May 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.