30 March 2023
Stefan Clausing
Via email:
[FYI request #21900 email]
Tēnā koe Stefan
Request for information: Communication that mentions continuous glucose monitors
Thank you for your request dated 23 February 2023 under the Official Information Act 1982
(OIA) for information relating to communication that mentions continuous glucose monitors
(CGMs). You requested:
Can I please request all communications (emails and chat messages) that
mention continuous glucose monitors (e.g. Dexcom, FreeStyle Libre) sent in
2022 either to Ministers or their offices, or that discuss contact with Ministers
or their offices, from the Chief Executive, Director of Operations and Pharmac
communications staff.
Further to my letter to you of 23 March 2023, which included copies of documents
about CGMs sent to the Minister of Health, I wish to advise that we are declining the
remaining portion of your above request (i.e. for emails and chat messages) under
section 18(f) of the OIA. This is because it would require substantial research and
collation to fulfil the remainder of your request.
In considering your request, we completed a search for emails about CGMs which
resulted in a substantial number of communications for review. After a preliminary
review there did not appear to be any communications relevant to your request. A
more comprehensive review would amount to a substantial administrative burden for
Pharmac.
I wish to reiterate that Pharmac operates independently of the Minister of Health, Associate
Ministers of Health and Manatū Hauora (Ministry of Health). This independence allows the
public to have confidence in the impartiality of funding decisions. Therefore, most
communications between Pharmac and the Minister is done formally (e.g. by official briefing).
Thank you again for writing to us. Please note, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman about our response to your OIA, under section 28(3) of the OIA. Details of
how
to make a complaint are on the Ombudsman’s website.
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about this.
Nāku noa, nā
Allanah Andrews
Manager, Policy and Government Services
2022-23-105; A1667582