133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
4 April 2024
A Mckee
By email: [FYI request #25871 email]
Ref:
H2024036621
Tēnā koe A Mckee
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 25 February 2024 for information regarding the co-
payment for prescription medicine. You requested:
“…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.”
On 5 March 2024, you were contacted by the Ministry and asked to refine the time period of
your request as it would likely require a substantial amount of time to collate. On the 6 March
2024, you narrowed the time period of your request for information from 2017 to 2020.
The Ministry has conducted a search for information within scope of your refined request which
returned with 138,152 items of correspondence. Even when the Ministry filtered the search
results with key words like
‘Chemist Warehouse, Countdown and discount’ the search returned
with 13,009 items.
As such, collating this information is not possible without it interfering with the day-to-day
operations of the relevant team. I have considered whether charging or extending the time to
compile the information would enable us to respond. However, I do not believe it is in the public
interest to do so. Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(f) of the Act, as the
information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
It is important to note that from 2017 to 2020, it was Government policy to allow co-payment for
prescriptions, with the maximum charge for those written by approved prescribers being $5.
The Ministry is aware of concerns in the pharmacy sector about the effects this discounting may
have on local businesses and on the valuable services community pharmacies provide.
However, discounting the prescription co-payment for customers is a business decision and the
Commerce Commission has signalled that is not allowing discounting of the co-payment would
be anti-competitive.
The policy approach to reintroducing prescription co-payments is currently being considered in
line with the Government’s election commitment. The Ministry believes that access to medicines
and pharmacy services an essential part of local primary and community health care.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].
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.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Emma Prestidge
Group Manager, Family and Community Health Policy
Strategy, Policy and Legislation |
Te Pou Rautaki
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