Should We Continue Using the Maxipack for Epidurals?

Epidural Set

Introduction

Recently, one of the obstetrician's had a chit-chat with Ms. Looi, the Unit Manager for Labour Ward, and discovered that there was a hefty price difference between the Maxipack and the non-Maxipack epidural kits. He has since approached us to consider not using the Maxipack as a cost-cutting measure.

Contents

All prices quoted are prices that the patient pays.
 
Cost Comparison of Epidural Kits
Maxipack Cost/RM   Non-Maxipack Cost/RM
Maxipack
249.00
  Epidural Kit
47.60
      Edpidural Set
18.00
      Fenestrated Towel
14.50
      Loss of Resistance Syringe
16.30
      Hand-Towels x 2
5.10
      Skin Incisor
N/Avail.
Total
249.00
  Total
101.50
Absolute Price Difference
147.50
Percentage Price Increase
145 %

 
Cost of Items
Common to Both Sets
Item Cost/RM
Procedure Setup
33.50
Syringe Pump
12.10
Extension Tubing
9.60
Primapore Dressing (L)
10.60
50 ml Syringe
6.30
Povidone Solution
4.60
Sterile Gloves (7 or 7 1/2)
4.50
Lignocaine 2 % (5 - 10 ml)
16.50
Marcain 0.5 % 10 ml
22.00
Marcain 0.125 % 100 ml
48.00
Fentanyl/Alfentanyl x 2
36.00
Total
203.70
The lists above will vary slightly from anaesthetist to anaesthetist. In some cases, you may omit some of the above items or you may substitute them with other items.
 
Cost Comparison Based on 
Total Price
  Maxipack Non-Maxipack
Base Price
RM 249.00
RM 101.50
Common Items
RM 203.70
RM 203.70
Total Price RM 452.70
RM 305.20
Percentage Price Increase  
48 %

As you can see, he is quite right about the big difference in price, which is almost RM 150.00.

At the moment, Kok Wah is trying to get the vendor to reduce the price and the vendor has promised to look into this. He will be trying to get both his company and the maufacturers to give a discount.

Charlie has also suggested using the B. Braun version of the "Maxipack" which is being used in Singapore. They could perhaps make a set suitable to our style and hopefully suitable to our Malaysian pockets.

There is currently no stock of the kits in our hospital and any further purchases would depend on the new price that the vendors can offer us.

Proposal

This topic will be put on hold and will not be put up on the GASBoard until we have more details on the pricing of the current Maxipack and/or the availability of the B. Braun version.

Update (04 June 2000)

Ms. Chin gave a reply in May 2000 and a survey was carried out among the anaesthetist. Six of us decided against using the epidural Maxipack while only 1 of us still wanted to use the set. As such, the decision was that no formal request would be made to have the Maxipack available.
 
 

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Homepage:-  https://gasline.tripod.com/
Posted:- 13 February 1999
Updated:- 04 June 2000
Proposer:- BS