Reimbursement prices are set according to the medical and economic benefits of each device. When possible, the price is determined by comparing the device to currently available equipment. Public hospitals are free to make medical equipment purchase decisions within the confines of their overall budgets. The budget determines their spending limits but does not restrict their purchase decisions.
Public hospitals issue tenders to purchase their equipment.
In theory, prices are not controlled since a public tender is to be won by the most competitive supplier. De facto, the T.I.P.S. published price becomes the maximum price for a given device, as no public hospital will accept to be charged more than private clinics. TradePort is an authorized distributor of STAT-USA data.