Changes to PPE supply for community-based FFS physicians

In May, private community-based physicians were granted temporary access to personal protective equipment (PPE) from the regional health authorities’ PPE inventory. This program has now ended.

The Department of Health and Community Services has developed a new process for community-based fee-for-service (FFS) physicians to purchase their own PPE from private vendors. The Department of Health has awarded a contract to Seafair Capital and Bio Nuclear to supply this PPE at competitive prices for private health care providers (physicians, dentists, etc.).

Seafair Capital is providing N95 respirators, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Bio Nuclear is providing gloves, gowns and masks.

To learn more about pricing, placing orders and for a full list of other vendors supplying PPE in Newfoundland and Labrador and throughout Atlantic Canada, please visit http://www.nlma.nl.ca/Page/COVID19

Background

NLMA Update – Sent November 13, 2020:

For the past six months, private community-based physicians have had temporary access to personal protective equipment (PPE) from the regional health authorities’ PPE inventory. This program has now ended. The Department of Health and Community Services has developed a new process for fee-for-service (FFS) physicians to purchase their own PPE from private vendors.

By way of background, in April the NLMA requested that the Department of Health provide FFS physicians in community offices with the same PPE as it required for its employees. The Department agreed to this request recognizing that PPE was difficult to source and prices were inflated. Emergency PPE kits became available to community-based FFS physicians from the RHA inventory on May 4th. Additional PPE for day-to-day use was made available on May 27th. In July, the NLMA informed members that the Department had issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a private vendor(s) that could supply this PPE to meet the provincial demand while offering reasonable prices for private health care providers (physicians, dentists, etc.). The Department agreed that PPE would continue to be available to FFS community physicians from the RHA supply at no cost until a private vendor(s) was announced.

The Department has advised that the RFP has now been awarded to Seafair Capital and BioNuclear. Seafair Capital will provide N95 respirators, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. BioNuclear will provide gloves, gowns and masks (surgical/medical, procedural). Both companies will provide deliveries to clinics throughout the province. Their products will also meet Health Canada standards for quality and safety.

NLMA will issue an update on how physicians can view prices and place orders to purchase this PPE. We will also provide members with a listing of other companies in the province that sell PPE for those who choose not to use the vendors approved by the Department.

NLMA will monitor this program and would appreciate hearing from members about their experiences.

Note: PPE will continue to be available at no cost for the purpose of delivering flu shots.