Kia ora
  
Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2024036621
  
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, Manatū Hauora will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/  
  
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on [2][email address]. If any additional factors come to light which
are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be taken into account. 

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: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

Ngā mihi 
 
OIA Services Team 
[4]Ministry of Health information releases 
 

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: A McKee <[FOI #25871 email]>;
Received: Sun Feb 25 2024 13:27:58 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>; OIA <[email address]>;
Subject: Official Information request - Regulators approach to discount
pharmacies

Dear Ministry of Health,

Prior to the withdrawal of $5 prescription charges on 1st July 2023, some
community pharmacy operators - which I will refer to as discount
pharmacies for the purpose of this request - opted to absorb the $5
copayment rather than passing it on to customers. This category includes
but is not limited to Chemist Warehouse and Woolworths (formerly
Countdown).

It is my observation that the Pharmaceutical Council and Health New
Zealand (as the former DHBs) applied different standards in their
monitoring of discount pharmacies than they did to other community
pharmacies.

Please provide copies of any communication between the Ministry of Health
and the Pharmaceutical Council, Health New Zealand or Auckland District
Health Board on the subject of discount pharmacy operators, Chemist
Warehouse or Woolworths / Countdown between 2013 and 2023.

Yours faithfully,

A McKee

 

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References

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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

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Kia ora A Mckee,

  

Thank you for your request to the Ministry of Health (Manatû Hauora) on 27
February 2024 for:

 

“Please provide copies of any communication between the Ministry of Health
and the Pharmaceutical Council, Health New Zealand or Auckland District
Health Board on the subject of discount pharmacy operators, Chemist
Warehouse or Woolworths / Countdown between 2013 and 2023.”

As you have asked for information that dates back 10 years ago, this would
likely require a substantial, manual search for this information across a
number of teams within the Ministry and a substantial amount of time to
collate. As it currently stands, your request may be refused under section
18(f) of the Act.  

 

In order to provide you with information sooner and in order to work
within a more manageable request, can you please refine the time period of
your request for information from 2017 to 2023?

Please respond by 8 March 2024 so that we can consider your refinement in
our response to your request.

Please note, under section 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, any
clarification or amendments made to a request within seven days after the
date it is received, that request may be treated as a new request and the
time limit for the response restarts.

Ngâ mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

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Kia ora A Mckee,

 

Thank you for agreeing to refine your request. 

 

Please note, under section 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, any
clarification or amendments made to a request within seven working days
after the date it is received, that request may be treated as a new
request and the time limit for the response restarts.

You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 4
April 2024. 

 

Ngâ mihi 

  

 

OIA Services Team

Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

 

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

From: OIA Requests
Sent: Tuesday, 5 March 2024 13:37
To: A McKee <[FOI #25871 email]>
Subject: Refinement of your request for official information, ref:
H2024036621

 

Kia ora A Mckee,

  

Thank you for your request to the Ministry of Health (Manatû Hauora) on 27
February 2024 for:

 

“Please provide copies of any communication between the Ministry of Health
and the Pharmaceutical Council, Health New Zealand or Auckland District
Health Board on the subject of discount pharmacy operators, Chemist
Warehouse or Woolworths / Countdown between 2013 and 2023.”

As you have asked for information that dates back 10 years ago, this would
likely require a substantial, manual search for this information across a
number of teams within the Ministry and a substantial amount of time to
collate. As it currently stands, your request may be refused under section
18(f) of the Act.  

 

In order to provide you with information sooner and in order to work
within a more manageable request, can you please refine the time period of
your request for information from 2017 to 2023?

Please respond by 8 March 2024 so that we can consider your refinement in
our response to your request.

Please note, under section 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, any
clarification or amendments made to a request within seven days after the
date it is received, that request may be treated as a new request and the
time limit for the response restarts.

 

Ngâ mihi 

  

 

OIA Services Team

Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[3]inistry of Health information releases 
U[4]nite against COVID-19 

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. https://covid19.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Kia ora A Mckee,

 

Please find attached a response to your request for official information.

 

Ngā mihi 

  

 

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections