Proposed Aids and Appliances tender strategy gets support from health services

Development of a planned greenfield HSV Aids and Appliances tender continues following endorsement of the strategy by health services earlier this month.

The greenfield tender is an opportunity for HSV to standardise pricing for Victorian health services for products that can be difficult to access at competitive prices, particularly in regional Victoria.

Under the proposal, health services would be able to procure or rent a range of mobility aids including wheelchairs, clinical chairs and orthotics, as well as aids and appliances required for post-discharge hire.

At Echuca Regional Health (ERH), Manager of Occupational Therapy Marie Wycisk says rural and remote health services have some unique challenges, particularly with sourcing post-discharge equipment.

“Often supplies that we order will travel long distances. We service communities in Echuca and as far away as Rushworth, Lockington, Gunbower, Stanhope and sometimes even over the border in NSW,” she says.

“Often there is a long lead time with deliveries and the patient can’t be discharged until we receive the equipment.”

Marie says ERH also needs to consider specific needs that patients have for equipment such as pressure care cushions, hoists and bathroom mobility aids.

“We service patients in palliative care and the bariatric population is growing – adjustments to the equipment are often required. It’s important that we have the flexibility and scope to make changes when we need to,” she says.

Marie says she’s hoping the proposed HSV agreement will help reduce the cost of purchasing, cleaning and storing the equipment.

“At the moment we will sometimes see big price variations, depending on who we are sourcing the equipment from,” she says.

“I’m also looking forward to a simpler, more efficient process under the new HSV agreement.”

Marie says that HSV’s Procurement team have listened to the needs of rural health services.

“I appreciate that they’re interested in what we have to say and see the value in our experience.

It’s also been great to have some clarity and guidelines on what the supply strategy can offer and what it can’t,” she says. 

HSV Head of Clinical Sourcing Hassan Pirov says he expects that the proposed products would cover most clinical requirements.

“Given this is a greenfield ITS, we may not be able to include all health service requirements in an initial tender. The expectation is that new products and further categories would be added via supplementary tenders over the next 12-24 months,” he says.

Hassan says that small rural and regional health services will benefit as much as metro hospitals from the planned agreement.

The tender strategy, including pricing and rental models, was endorsed by the Executive Reference Group earlier in February. On the advice of HSV’s Procurement and Supply Chain Committee, further work is underway to develop the rental model before it goes back to the committee for review and approval. The contract is expected to commence in early 2026.

In 2024 the HSV Procurement team engaged with 14 health services including Albury Wodonga Health, Goulburn Valley Health, West Gippsland Health Service, Echuca Regional Health and Peninsula Health. They also met with representatives from the Statewide Equipment Program (SWEP) in Ballarat, which subsidises the cost of aids and appliances including assistive technology.

“The engagement helped HSV to better understand how aids and appliances are currently managed, what type of equipment is used on the wards and the arrangements currently in place with providers,” says Hassan.

“Some health services will store stock onsite while others rent the equipment from local suppliers. We can help them to access more options at better price points.”