Proposal for changes to funded 60 mm and 56 mm (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms

Source: Pharmac

What we’re proposing

We are also proposing to list 144 unit bulk packs of Gold Knight brand 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. These bulk packs would be listed alongside the currently funded Gold Knight brand 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms, which are supplied in dispensing packs of 12 packs of 12 condoms. These 144 unit bulk packs would be suitable for use by bulk supply organisations.

This proposal follows PHARMAC’s 2019 decision to make changes to funded 49 mm, 53 mm and 56 mm male latex condoms. If this proposal is approved, the following changes would occur:

• From 1 June 2020 the price of the currently funded brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms, Shield XL, would increase.
• From 1 October 2020, the Gold Knight XL brand of 60 mm male latex condoms would be fully funded and listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule in 144 unit bulk packs and 12 unit dispensing packs.
• The currently funded Shield XL brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms would remain fully funded until at least 1 October 2020 and would be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule once existing stock has been sold through.
• We are also proposing a reduction in the maximum number of funded 60 mm nominal width condoms allowed to be prescribed and available via a Practitioner’s Supply Order (PSO) from 144 to 60 condoms from 1 October 2020. This is intended to reduce funded condom wastage and would align with changes to PSO dispensing volumes for other nominal widths of male latex condoms that were made in 2019.
• From 1 October 2020, 144 unit bulk packs of 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) Gold Knight brand male latex condoms suitable for use by bulk supply organisations would be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule alongside the currently funded Gold Knight brand 12 unit dispensing pack.

Consultation closes at 4 pm Friday 8 May 2020 and feedback can be emailed to consult@pharmac.govt.nz.

What would the effect be?

For individuals and organisations accessing funded male latex condoms

Individuals and organisations would continue to be able to access fully funded 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms. The currently funded Shield XL brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms would continue to be funded while existing stocks last and, would be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule after 1 October 2020 once remaining stocks are exhausted.

From 1 October 2020 the Gold Knight XL brand of 60 mm nominal width condoms would be funded. Individuals and organisations accessing funded 60mm nominal width male latex condoms would need to change to the Gold Knight XL brand prior to remaining Shield XL stock being sold through.

From 1 October 2020, 144 unit bulk packs of the Gold Knight brand of 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms suitable for use by bulk supply organisations would be funded alongside the currently funded 12 unit dispensing packs.

Prescribers, pharmacists, wholesalers and individuals and organisations accessing funded condoms would be supported with information to manage any change.

For Prescribers

Prescribers would continue to be able to prescribe fully funded 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms. To reduce wastage, the maximum number of funded condoms allowed per prescription would be reduced from 144 to 60 condoms from 1 October 2020.

Funded 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms would remain available via Practitioner’s Supply Order (PSO); however, the maximum quantity allowed per PSO would be reduced from 144 to 60 condoms from 1 October 2020.

No changes are proposed to the prescribing and dispensing frequencies of 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms.

For community pharmacies and organisations accessing funded condoms

Pharmacies would continue to be able to dispense and claim for any subsidised brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condom listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Organisations accessing funded condoms via direct distribution would continue to be able to access any subsidised brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condom listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

From 1 October 2020, 144 unit bulk packs and 12 unit dispensing packs of the Gold Knight XL brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms would be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, alongside the currently funded Shield XL brand. The Shield XL brand would remain fully funded until at least 1 October 2020 and would be delisted from Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule once remaining stock has been sold through.

From the date that the Shield XL brand is delisted from Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, the Gold Knight XL brand would be the only funded brand of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms and would have Sole Subsidised Supply status until 30 September 2022.

From 1 October 2020 144 bulk packs of 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) Gold Knight brand male latex condoms would be funded and listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule. These bulk packs would be listed alongside the currently funded Gold Knight brand of 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms, which are supplied in dispensing packs of 12 packs of 12 condoms.

Who we think will be interested

• People who access funded condoms.
• The New Zealand AIDS Foundation, Family Planning Clinics and other organisations that access and distribute funded condoms.
• Clinicians and community pharmacists who prescribe and dispense funded condoms.
• Suppliers and wholesalers of condoms.

About condoms

Condoms are an effective barrier method for reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and are also used as a contraceptive. Approximately 8,000,000 funded condoms are dispensed annually in the community.

Why we’re proposing this

On 16 May 2018 PHARMAC released a Request for Proposals (RFP), which included supply of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms. This proposal follows PHARMAC’s 2019 decision to make changes to funded 49 mm, 53 mm and 56 mm male latex condoms.

As a result of the RFP and our analysis of the proposals received, PHARMAC has entered into a provisional agreement with Jackson Allison for the supply of its 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms. This provisional agreement also includes supply of 144 unit bulk packs of Gold Knight brand 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms, which would be supplied from 1 October 2020. The currently funded dispensing packs of Gold Knight brand 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms would continue to be supplied and remain fully funded.

Details about our proposal

From 1 June 2020 the price of currently funded Shield XL 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule would increase.

The following table shows the brands and pack sizes of 60 mm nominal width and 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms that would be funded and listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule over the coming months.

* condom is currently listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

Shield XL brand condoms would be delisted from Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule at some point after 1 October 2020 once remaining stock has been sold through. Notification of this delisting date would be provided to the relevant parties closer to the time.

Note that the Gold Knight brand was previously awarded Sole Subsidised Supply status for 56 mm nominal width (0.05 mm thickness) male latex condoms from 1 March 2020 until 30 September 2022 and this would continue to apply.

The Shield XL and Gold Knight XL brands of 60 mm nominal width male latex condoms would be awarded Sole Subsidised Supply status from 1 June 2020 until 30 September 2022 to align with the end dates of the Sole Subsidised Supply status periods awarded to other nominal widths of male latex condom in July 2019.

To provide feedback

Send us an email: consult@pharmac.govt.nz by Friday 8 May 2020.

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.

Feedback we receive is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and we will consider any request to have information withheld in accordance with our obligations under the OIA. Anyone providing feedback, whether on their own account or on behalf of an organisation, and whether in a personal or professional capacity, should be aware that the content of their feedback and their identity may need to be disclosed in response to an OIA request.

We are not able to treat any part of your feedback as confidential unless you specifically request that we do, and then only to the extent permissible under the OIA and other relevant laws and requirements. If you would like us to withhold any commercially sensitive, confidential proprietary, or personal information included in your submission, please clearly state this in your submission and identify the relevant sections of your submission that you would like it withheld. PHARMAC will give due consideration to any such request.

MIL OSI