Proposal to list various radiological contrast media supplied by Regional Health Limited
PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal, resulting from a provisional agreement with Regional Health Limited for the supply of various radiological contrast media products.
Summary of the proposal
In summary, this proposal would result in:
- Listing the following brands of barium sulphate radiological contrast media products in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule:
- EZ Cat Dry
- EZ HD Barium
- EZ Paste
- Liquibar (oral liquid)
- Liquibar (enema)
- Liquid Polibar
- Readi-Cat
- Readi-Cat 2
- Taigtol V
- Varibar – nectar
- Varibar – honey
- Varibar – pudding
- Varibar – thin liquid
- Volumen
- X Opaque HD
- CT Plus+
- Listing the following radiological contrast media products in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule:
- barium sulphate with sodium bicarbonate (EZ Gas II)
- gadobenic acid (Multihance)
- diatrizoate sodium (Ioscan)
The background to and details of the proposal can be found on the following pages.
Feedback sought
PHARMAC welcomes feedback on this proposal. To provide feedback, please submit it in writing by 4pm, Wednesday, 27 August 2014 to:
Christine Chapman
Therapeutic Group Manager
PHARMAC
PO Box 10 254
Wellington 6143
Email: christine.chapman@pharmac.govt.nz
Fax: 04 460 4995
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 withheld. PHARMAC will give due consideration to any such request.
Background
In September 2013 PHARMAC released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for supply of radiological contrast media for the DHB Hospitals. The RFP document can be found at the following link:
The timetable for the RFP was amended on the 18 December 2013 and further detail can be found at:
A decision was made in June 2014 to list a number of radiological contrast media agents from 1 July 2014 under agreements with GE Healthcare, Bayer, Obex Medical and Global Medical Solutions. Further details on this decision can be found at:
The proposed listings and amendments are as a result of this RFP process and are the last listings that will be made as a result of the RFP.
Details of the proposals
A provisional agreement with Regional Health Limited would result in the following listings and amendments.
- New listings in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2014 (prices are ex-manufacturer and excluding GST):
Chemical Presentation Brand Pack size Price Barium sulphate 20 mg per g
(2% w/w ),
23 g sachetEZ Cat Dry 50 $507.50 Barium sulphate 98.38% w/w,
340 g bottleEZ HD Barium 24 $219.84 Barium sulphate 600 mg per g
(60% w/w),
454 g tubeEZ Paste 1 $36.51 Barium sulphate 1250 mg per ml
(125% w/v),
2000 ml bottleLiquibar
(Oral liquid)1 $91.77 Barium sulphate 1250 mg per ml
(125% w/v),
500 ml bagLiquibar
(Enema)12 $282.30 Barium sulphate 1000 mg per ml
(100% w/v, 56% w/w),
1900 ml bottleLiquid Polibar 1 $72.86 Barium sulphate 13 mg per ml
(1.3% w/v, 1.2% w/w),
450 ml bottleReadi-Cat 24 $240.48 Barium sulphate 21 mg per ml
(2.1% w/v, 2% w/w),
250 ml bottleReadi-Cat 2 24 $140.94 Barium sulphate 400 mg per ml
(40% w/v, 30% w/w),
20 ml bottleTagitol V 3 $52.35 Barium sulphate 400 mg per ml
(40% w/v),
240 ml bottleVaribar – Nectar 1 $38.40 Barium sulphate 400 mg per ml
(40% w/v),
250 ml bottleVaribar – Honey 1 $155.35 Barium sulphate 400 mg per ml
(40% w/v),
230 ml bottleVaribar – Pudding 1 $145.04 Barium sulphate 40% w/v, 30% w/w,
148 g bottleVaribar – Thin liquid 1 $17.39 Barium sulphate 1 mg per ml
(0.1% w/v, 0.1% w/w),
450 ml bottleVolumen 24 $441.12 Barium sulphate 97.65% w/w,
300 g potX Opaque HD 24 $237.76 Barium sulphate with sodium bicarbonate 382.2 mg per g with sodium bicarbonate
551.3 mg per g,
4 g sachetEZ Gas II 50 $102.93 - Amended listings in Part II of Section H from 1 October 2014 as follows (prices are ex-manufacturer and excluding GST):
Chemical Presentation Brand Pack size Current price Proposed price Barium sulphate 22 mg per g
(2.2% w/w),
250 ml bottleCT Plus+ 24 $175.00 $175.00 Barium sulphate 22 mg per g
(2.2% w/w),
450 ml bottleCT Plus+ 24 $220.00 $220.00 Gadobenic acid 334 mg per ml,
10 ml vialMultihance 10 $324.74 $324.74 Gadobenic acid 334 mg per ml,
20 ml vialMultihance 10 $636.28 $636.28 Diatrizoate sodium 370 mg per ml,
10 ml sachetIoscan 50 $156.12 $156.12 - All pharmaceuticals supplied by Regional Health Limited under this provisional agreement would have delisting protection up to and including 30 June 2017.