23 June 2016 - PHARMAC is pleased to announce the approval of an agreement with Biotronik Australia Pty Limited for the supply of interventional cardiology devices.

This was the subject of a consultation letter dated 12 May 2016.

In summary, the effect of the decision is that:

• A range of 288 interventional cardiology devices (guide wires, cutting balloon catheters, dilatation balloon catheters, drug eluting balloon catheters, bare metal stents, drug eluting stents and covered stents) will be listed in Section H, Part III, (‘Optional Pharmaceuticals’) of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 July 2016.
• DHB hospitals can purchase these items either directly from Biotronik or through a designated third party logistics provider under the national agreement.
• There are estimated savings to DHBs that currently use these products of approximately $82,000 per annum nationally, based on current usage.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news/notification-2016-06-23-interventional-cardiology-biotronik/