Hospital devices
PHARMAC's work has expanded to include managing medical devices used in District Health Boards' (DHB) hospitals.
We're working towards applying the full PHARMAC model to medical devices in a carefully planned way. We've started contracting for products that DHB hospitals already buy, and are working to take on the full scope of medical devices. Ultimately PHARMAC will make choices about which new hospital medical devices will be introduced, that will get the best health outcomes. This is similar to the work we already do in deciding which medicines may be given in DHB hospitals.
We're aiming for:
- nation-wide consistency and standardisation – so all New Zealanders have access to the treatments they need, no matter where they live
- value for money – provide the best health outcomes from the spend on medical devices
- variation where needed – to ensure clinically appropriate products can be used
- decision-making that's more transparent – so there's greater clarity and consistency about medical devices funding decisions
