Proposal to enter into a medical devices supply agreement with ESL Biosciences
What we’re proposing
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to enter into a medical devices listing agreement from 1 September 2025 with ESL Biosciences (New Zealand) Limited (“ESL Biosciences”).
The proposed agreement covers medical devices in the laboratory equipment and consumables category.
Consultation closes at 4pm, Friday 1 August 2025 and feedback can be emailed to Tyson.edwards@pharmac.govt.nz
What would the effect be?
From 1 September 2025 medical devices supplied by ESL Biosciences in the laboratory equipment and consumables category would be listed under a national agreement for all Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (“Health NZ”) hospitals to purchase under, subject to consultation and approval by Pharmac’s Board or delegate (“Agreement”).
The Agreement would not be for sole supply and Health NZ hospitals could continue to purchase other suppliers’ brands of laboratory equipment and consumables.
The Agreement would supersede any existing Health NZ agreements with ESL Biosciences for the medical devices included in the Agreement. Any medical device listed in the Agreement and purchased by Health NZ hospitals would be in accordance with the terms and conditions, including price, stated in the Agreement effective from 1 September 2025.
Pricing for the medical devices in the Agreement, subject to any prior termination of the Agreement, would not be increased without prior consultation and approval by Pharmac.
Who we think will be interested
- Health NZ staff including but not limited to:
- Clinicians
- Clinical engineers and maintenance services
- Laboratory managers, scientists, technicians and other laboratory staff
- Nurses
- Pathologists
- Procurement and supply chain personnel
- Suppliers and wholesalers
About these medical devices
The laboratory equipment and consumables category includes medical devices used in the collection, receipt, preparation, and analysis of human biological material for the purpose of supporting patient diagnosis, management and treatment.
Why we’re proposing this
In September 2018 Pharmac released the following Request for Proposal (“RFP”):
The RFP was for non-exclusive national agreements for listing on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Pharmac has been working with suppliers who responded to the RFP and were successful in being progressed to contract negotiation to seek provisional agreements. This is the latest proposal to arise from this process.
Details about our proposal
Pharmac has entered into a provisional agreement with ESL Biosciences for the supply of laboratory equipment and consumables. The proposal covers 233 medical devices from the following brands:
- Euroimmun
- Revvity
- Sebia
Further information, including pricing and contractual details, has been provided to Health NZ procurement personnel. Clinicians interested in further detail on what this proposal means for their hospital should engage with the Health NZ procurement team.
To provide feedback
Send us an email: Tyson.edwards@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm, Friday 1 August 2025.
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.
Your feedback may be shared
When you give feedback on a consultation, your feedback becomes official information that Pharmac holds. Pharmac has legal responsibilities for how we manage this official information, under laws such as the Official Information Act and Privacy Act.
Pharmac may receive a request from people for official information, which could include your feedback. Legally, Pharmac must consider whether your feedback should be released.
We will consider your views when assessing whether the feedback has to be released. Tell us if there is anything about your feedback that you would prefer wasn’t released.
If your feedback is proposed for release, then Pharmac will contact you, unless there is a legal reason that we can't.
Note that Pharmac collects and holds your information in line with our Privacy Statement.