Apr 16 2013
Health Robotics today announced that in response to competitive trends and overwhelming customer demand, it recently added support for LifeCare, while withdrawing sales support for all Fresenius Kabi's IV consumables for all of its Robots.
Health Robotics maintained its current support for IV Bags from Baxter (Aviva, Viaflo, Viaflex, INTRAVIATM), Hospira (VisIVTM), B.Braun (PAB® and Excel®), Grifols (Fleboflex®, Flebobag®), Otsuka, Impromediform, and Terumo.
Gaspar DeViedma, Health Robotics' Executive Vice President and Board Member, stated: "Just as an example of the wide choice of IV consumables we offer, Health Robotics supports 13 different brands of IV Bags, compared to most IV Robots supporting just 1 brand of IV Bags, or at most 2 brands. We don't charge the IV consumables companies to develop support for their products' use with our Robots, and consequently we reserve the right to withdraw support at any time. Fresenius Kabi's decision to enter the IV Automation market with the acquisition of Medical Dispensing and PharmaHelp as a replacement of IHS/RIVA [thus downgrading to a non-Robotic obsolete device] and the recent installation in Australia of PharmaHelp Medical Dispensing, certainly means that Health Robotics has the option to respond in kind to these new industry events, http://www.fresenius-kabi.de/files/21_01_PM_Pharmahelp_Launch_final.pdf
Consequently, Health Robotics announced the immediate discontinuation of new global sales support for all Fresenius Kabi IV products (Bags, Syringes, etc.) due to their limited customer demand, coupled with the Fresenius Kabi's decision to attempt to compete with Health Robotics, Intelligent Hospital Systems/RIVA, and other IV Automation companies, after its failed 4-year-old IHS/RIVA chemotherapy robot implementation: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/
Mr. DeViedmacontinued: "Acting on self-interest to stop sales support of Fresenius Kabi's' IV consumables, we send a clear message that we will continue to react in a similar manner if other companies that need IV consumables compatibility with our Robots attempt to directly compete with Health Robotics and take advantage of our research and development efforts. I personally witnessed the disappointment that two Fresenius Kabi's executives shared with me during my recent visit to Australia, after Fresenius Kabi's 4-year repeated failures on TGA inspections to obtain regulatory approval for its installed RIVA unit, and after a $5M investment for a single Robot. Nevertheless, Health Robotics needs to protect its own interests, and solely continue product development cooperation with other companies that are not our direct competitors, whether we are dealing with IV Bags, IV Bottles, Syringes, Caps, CSTDs, Needles, or other IV consumables."