Kia ora Greg,

 

Thank you for your request for official information received on 27 August
2021 for:

 

"Please provide information regarding the care and therapy offered people
who are hospitalised with Covid-19 symptoms

 

Please provide information regarding the care and therapy offered people
who are outpatients or in manged isolation with Covid-19 symptoms

 

Please provide information on what progress the Ministry has made with the
ongoing review of repurposed drugs and therapies; ivermectin,
hydroxychloroquine, zinc, Vitamin D etc. either separately or in
combination in the context of your answer to this OIA request: 
[1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

Please provide information on what advice Ministry of Health has provided
generally and or specifically to practicing medical practitioners who make
inquiries about the statutory legality of proscribing repurposed
anti-virals alone or in conjunction (multi-drug therapy as in the
treatment of HIV-AIDS
[2]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

Please provide information of what planning is being done and treatment
protocols are developed or being pursued to ensure that New Zealand can
effectively treat and cure people with Covid-19 symptoms that may come
from the opening of the nation to the larger world.”

 

The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202111201.

 

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 24 September 2021,
being 20 working days after the day your request was received.

 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [3][email address]

 

 

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Kia ora Greg  

 

Thank you for your request for official information on 27 August 2021 for:
 

 

              “Please provide information regarding the care and therapy
offered people who are hospitalised with Covid-19 symptoms 

 

Please provide information regarding the care and therapy offered people
who are outpatients or in manged isolation with Covid-19 symptoms 

 

Please provide information on what progress the Ministry has made with the
ongoing review of repurposed drugs and therapies; ivermectin,
hydroxychloroquine, zinc, Vitamin D etc. either separately or in
combination in the context of your answer to this OIA request:
[1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

Please provide information on what advice Ministry of Health has provided
generally and or specifically to practicing medical practitioners who make
inquiries about the statutory legality of proscribing repurposed
anti-virals alone or in conjunction (multi-drug therapy as in the
treatment of HIV-AIDS
[2]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

Please provide information of what planning is being done and treatment
protocols are developed or being pursued to ensure that New Zealand can
effectively treat and cure people with Covid-19 symptoms that may come
from the opening of the nation to the larger world.” 

 

Information regarding COVID-19 treatment protocols is not held by the
Ministry of Health. This will be held by the Primary Health Organisations,
General Practitioners, or District Health Boards that provided the
treatment. PHOs and GPs are not subject to the Act, however, you may want
to contact the DHBs directly. Their contact details can be at:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/key-health-sector-organisations-and-people/district-health-boards/district-health-board-websites. 

 

You may also be interested in the following information available on the
Ministry website:

o [4]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-health-professionals/covid-19-advice-all-health-professionals#line. 
o [5]www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/interim_guidance_-_clinical_management_of_covid-19_in_adults.pdf 
o [6]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-health-professionals/covid-19-primary-care 

 

For Ivermectin to be approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19
New Zealand legislation requires that a sponsor submits a medicine
application with appropriate safety and efficacy data to Medsafe, for
evaluation and approval before it can be supplied here. To date this has
not occurred.  Information on who can be a medicine sponsor in New
Zealand, and therefore submit an application to Medsafe, can be found in
the Guidelines on the Regulation of Therapeutic Products in New Zealand,
Part 2, Section 2, available
here: [7]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/c...

 

There is currently one medicine containing ivermectin approved for use in
New Zealand. The medicine is called Stromectol, and it is approved for a
number of clinical indications. However, these indications do not include
the treatment of COVID-19. More information about Stromectol including the
expected side effects of use, and the company that is registered as its
sponsor can be found in the New Zealand data sheet
here: [8]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datash...
information on the regulation of medicines for the treatment of COVID-19
can be found on our website
at: [9]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/med...

  

The World Health Organization recommends not to use ivermectin to treat
patients with COVID-19 outside of clinical
trials [10]https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/...
and that the Ministry has no plans to promote its use for treatment of
COVID-19. Medsafe advice on medicine repurposing to treat COVID-19
infections (including anti viral medication) is available here:
[11]http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/pol...

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [12][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 

 

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services Team

 

[13]Ministry of Health information releases

[14]Unite against COVID-19

 

 

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immediately and delete this message.
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12. mailto:[email address]
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14. https://covid19.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Greg,

 

 

Thank you for your email. Apologies that the link was not working for you.
For ease, I have attached the pdf for you. The Ministry of Health holds no
further information regarding covid treatment protocols other than what
has been provided to you on our website. 

 

As COVID-19 is a viral illness, there is no specific treatment. Most
people who develop COVID-19 will recover fully while isolating at home or
in managed isolation and quarantine and they do not require
hospitalisation. Supportive treatment with fluid, rest, and antifever
medication is useful in aiding recovery and can be successfully managed by
a general practitioner (GP). A GP is best placed to provide care for those
who are recovering from COVID-19 at home, as they are familiar with
underlying conditions that may impact recovery and can manage these
appropriately.

 

For patients who are hospitalised with serious cases of COVID-19, there is
currently one Medsafe approved medication which is dexamethasone. It is an
anti-inflammatory medication that is indicated in the treatment of
COVID-19 for patients who require supplemental oxygen therapy. You can
find the Medsafe datasheet for the approved medicine
here: [1]www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/d/Dexmethsonetab.pdf .

 

Medical practitioners are permitted to use any medicine for a particular
patient in their care at their discretion; however, unapproved medicines
have not been evaluated by Medsafe for safety and efficacy. If your
healthcare professional chose to prescribe other agents to treat a patient
with COVID-19 it would be their responsibility to ensure that they are
aware of any safety issues and that they communicate the risks and
benefits to their patients. See
[2]www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/medicine-approval-process.asp.   

 

The Ministry of Health is aware that therapeutics will have a role to play
in managing the pandemic for people who are not vaccinated. Medicines and
other ways to treat and manage patients who have COVID-19 are being
continually developed and researched. You can find more information on
COVID-19 treatments on the Ministry of Health website here:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/about-covid-19.

 

However, as previously advised, the Ministry of Health does not conduct
the treatment of patients, therefore cannot provide guidance regarding the
treatment protocols that is in the hospitals, general practitioners or
district health boards.

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [email address] or by calling 0800 802
602.

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services Team 

  

[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

[5]Unite against COVID-19 

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: greg rzesniowiecki <[FOI #16523 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 23 September 2021 12:51
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Your request for information, ref: H202111201

 

Dear OIA Requests,

Many thanks for your 22 September response to my questions.

I note you state;

“Information regarding COVID-19 treatment protocols is not held by the
Ministry of Health. This will be held by the Primary Health Organisations,
General Practitioners, or District Health Boards that provided the
treatment. PHOs and GPs are not subject to the Act, however, you may want
to contact the DHBs directly. Their contact details can be at:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/key-health-sector-organisations-and-people/district-health-boards/district-health-board-websites.”

To state; “Information regarding COVID-19 treatment protocols is not held
by the Ministry of Health” seems perverse given you run the MoH website
and Medsafe is part of the MoH, which has provided provisional approval
for various Covid-19 vaccinations and provided approval for Dexmethsone as
a Covid therapeutic in conjunction with the 'usual care' (whatever that is
being one of the questions I am asking you) -
[6]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datash... and in
light of this; “Interim Guidance – Clinical Management of COVID-19 in
Hospitalised Adults” updated 10 September 2021;
[7]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
and which states;

“New evidence informing the optimal management of patients with COVID-19
continues to accumulate rapidly. This document will be reviewed and
updated periodically, or in response to significant changes in evidence
and/or recommendations by international guideline groups.

“Further detailed guidance, including treatments that are either not
recommended, or recommended only within a clinical trial, can be accessed
in links to international guidance at the end of this document. Local
specialist services with expertise in managing COVID-19 may consider
emerging treatments outside of this guideline.”

The above appears to refute your asserted; “Information regarding COVID-19
treatment protocols is not held by the Ministry of Health”

Further your response of 22 September 2021 provided a link to; “interim
guidance – clinical management of covid-19 in adults”
[8]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
which page denies me access. Does that link to the above pdf? “Interim
Guidance – Clinical Management of COVID-19 in Hospitalised Adults” updated
10 September

Could you please provide the information in a form which is accessible,
seeing you in fact do self-identify that you possess treatment protocols
albeit these aren't publicly disclosed, and/or are difficult to access.

Yours sincerely,

greg rzesniowiecki

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Greg  

  

 Thank you for your request for official information on 27 August 2021
for:
  

  

               “Please provide information regarding the care and therapy
 offered people who are hospitalised with Covid-19 symptoms 

  

 Please provide information regarding the care and therapy offered people
 who are outpatients or in manged isolation with Covid-19 symptoms 

  

 Please provide information on what progress the Ministry has made with
the
 ongoing review of repurposed drugs and therapies; ivermectin,
 hydroxychloroquine, zinc, Vitamin D etc. either separately or in
 combination in the context of your answer to this OIA request:
 [1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

  

 Please provide information on what advice Ministry of Health has provided
 generally and or specifically to practicing medical practitioners who
make
 inquiries about the statutory legality of proscribing repurposed
 anti-virals alone or in conjunction (multi-drug therapy as in the
 treatment of HIV-AIDS
 [2]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

  

 Please provide information of what planning is being done and treatment
 protocols are developed or being pursued to ensure that New Zealand can
 effectively treat and cure people with Covid-19 symptoms that may come
 from the opening of the nation to the larger world.” 

  

 Information regarding COVID-19 treatment protocols is not held by the
 Ministry of Health. This will be held by the Primary Health
Organisations,
 General Practitioners, or District Health Boards that provided the
 treatment. PHOs and GPs are not subject to the Act, however, you may want
 to contact the DHBs directly. Their contact details can be at:
 [3]www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/key-health-sector-organisations-and-people/district-health-boards/district-health-board-websites. 

  

 You may also be interested in the following information available on the
 Ministry website:

 o [4]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-health-professionals/covid-19-advice-all-health-professionals#line. 
 o [5]www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/interim_guidance_-_clinical_management_of_covid-19_in_adults.pdf 
 o [6]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-health-professionals/covid-19-primary-care 

  

 For Ivermectin to be approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19
 New Zealand legislation requires that a sponsor submits a medicine
 application with appropriate safety and efficacy data to Medsafe, for
 evaluation and approval before it can be supplied here. To date this has
 not occurred.  Information on who can be a medicine sponsor in New
 Zealand, and therefore submit an application to Medsafe, can be found in
 the Guidelines on the Regulation of Therapeutic Products in New Zealand,
 Part 2, Section 2, available
 here: [7]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/c...

  

 There is currently one medicine containing ivermectin approved for use in
 New Zealand. The medicine is called Stromectol, and it is approved for a
 number of clinical indications. However, these indications do not include
 the treatment of COVID-19. More information about Stromectol including
the
 expected side effects of use, and the company that is registered as its
 sponsor can be found in the New Zealand data sheet
 here: [8]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datash...
 information on the regulation of medicines for the treatment of COVID-19
 can be found on our website
 at: [9]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/med...

   

 The World Health Organization recommends not to use ivermectin to treat
 patients with COVID-19 outside of clinical
 trials [10]https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/...
 and that the Ministry has no plans to promote its use for treatment of
 COVID-19. Medsafe advice on medicine repurposing to treat COVID-19
 infections (including anti viral medication) is available here:
 [11]http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/pol...

  

 Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
 review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
 contacted by email at: [12][email address] or by calling 0800
 802 602. 

  

  

 Ngâ mihi

  

 OIA Services Team

  

 [13]Ministry of Health information releases

 [14]Unite against COVID-19

  

  
 
 
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[18]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
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[19]http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Medicines/pol...
 12. [20]mailto:[email address]
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