McKesson Tender Selected for HealthLine

Media Release

9 February 2007

McKesson Tender Selected for HealthLine

McKesson NZ Ltd has been chosen as the preferred tenderer to continue running Healthline, the freephone line (0800 611 116) providing round the clock health advice to Kiwis.

The Ministry of Health put out a request for tenders in mid-October 2006 and received two. They were then evaluated by a panel of Ministry officials and external experts.

McKesson NZ Ltd commenced providing Healthline on a pilot basis in four District Health Board (DHB) areas in May 2000. The current contract for Healthline commenced in July 2004 and runs to September 2007. The national rollout took place from March to June 2005.

Following the tender process, the Ministry will now enter into negotiations with McKesson NZ Ltd for a new contract to commence on 1 October 2007.

The Ministry's Deputy Director-General of DHB Funding and Performance Anthony Hill says McKesson NZ Ltd provided the stronger tender and met the requirements of the Request For Tender (RFP). McKesson has extensive experience in staffing, supporting and operating telephone health advice services, including Healthline, in New Zealand.

"The Ministry is confident that McKesson will continue to deliver a high-quality telephone advice service. The expected call volume for Healthline is between 240,000 to 270,000 per annum."

Anthony Hill says Healthline answered approximately 239,000 calls in the year to June 2006.

Background:

McKesson took over the Well Child Telephone Advice Service from July 1 2006, using the same freephone number also used for Healthline. The current contract with McKesson for the Well Child Telephone Advice Service expires in June 2008.

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