Equipment sourcing program continues to achieve strong outcomes

HSV’s medical equipment sourcing program continues to achieve strong outcomes for health services, with total expenditure coordinated on behalf of health services reaching almost $50 million in 2023.

This is in addition to close to $60 million in total expenditure in 2022. The team has achieved positive results and cost reductions for health services this year, including the first Pathology group buy activity on behalf of Alfred Health and Monash Health.

The tender for 53 blood gas analysers, used to measure partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood in critically ill patients, was completed in mid-2023.

“This year we’ve been working closely with procurement and clinical teams at large metropolitan services such as Western Health to facilitate sourcing activities on their behalf,” said Mark.

“We tailor our approach to their needs, offering advice and guidance throughout the procurement process and we lead the commercial and negotiation processes,” he says.

This year the team helped procure chemical analysers, blood bank analysers and immunoassay analysers for Eastern Health, and managed a computed tomography (CT) scanner and fluoroscopy tender for Western Health.

The collaboration with HSV has led to the achievement of better value outcomes according to Western Health Manager, Procurement - Clinical, Valentina Trajkovski.

“The expertise of the HSV sourcing team, especially their understanding of market dynamics, has been invaluable,” she said.

“We look forward to further developing our partnership with HSV to deliver the best results in the next round of procurement activities scheduled for 2024.”

Eastern Health Contracts and Tenders Manager Dawn Langcake has worked with HSV to procure both replacement and new equipment, including pathology equipment, a positron emission tomography (PET) machine and an electrocardiogram machine this year.

Dawn said she found the process beneficial because it helped Eastern Health gain access to the most competitive pricing in the market.

“Grant Thomas and the Equipment team have been very supportive throughout the process, providing a wealth of knowledge to support negotiations and supplier debriefs,” she said.

HSV’s Equipment Sourcing team has access to national pricing and individual cost component data, as well as tools and templates to expedite the process and improve health service outcomes. Importantly, health services retain decision-making authority over this process.

Benefits for health services include:

• medical equipment procurement and market expertise
• price benchmarking and quote reviews
• assistance with supplier negotiations
• technical expertise, often resulting in improved specifications and warranties
• procuring equipment service, maintenance and software
• contractual enforcement.

For more information about support for medical equipment procurement, please contact your HSV Customer Relationship Manager or the HSV Helpdesk at helpdesk@healthsharevic.org.au or phone 03 9947 3900.

Top image: Fluoroscopy Suite Sunshine Hospital.