Medical technology body identifies $50m savings

Media Release

August 18, 2009

Medical technology body identifies $50m in health savings

The Medical Technology Association of New Zealand (MTANZ) says it has been working with District Health Boards New Zealand for a year and the collaboration has already identified $50m in cost efficiencies, for the health system.

“The recommendations from the Ministerial Review Group regarding medical device procurement, announced this week, are unnecessary as we already working through action plan with the DHBNZ. One of the areas identified that will deliver significant savings is extending the current electronic trading,” says MTANZ chief executive Faye Sumner.

MTANZ represents manufacturers and importers who supply medical technology used in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of disease and disability.

Ms Sumner says the MRG’s recommendation that the sector adopt a pharmaceutical purchasing model for medical devices will not work.

“Pharmac has looked at it before and concluded that it involves far greater complexity and costs than just buying a pill. Innovative medical devices cannot simply be replaced by a ‘generic’ model to save money. You would just be buying cheap, old technology,” she says.

Ms Sumner says investing in medical technology leads to long term gains in patient outcomes and improved healthcare system efficiencies.

She says her organisation agrees there is a need for a cost effective medical device regulatory approval process for New Zealand in the future and it is already working towards a regulatory scheme that is cost-efficient and gives patients and clinicians timely and equitable access to diagnostic tests and therapies.

MTANZ also supports the recommendations for eliminating duplication, better regional planning by DHBs and working towards standardising contracts and tendering processes across the country.

Ms Sumner says lives and money are saved through more accurate diagnoses, less invasive procedures and improved treatment options.

ENDS

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