Regulators approach to discount pharmacies
A McKee made this Official Information request to Health New Zealand
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From: A McKee
Dear Health New Zealand,
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 Health New Zealand (or the former DHBs) and the Ministry of Health or the Pharmaceutical Council on the subject of discount pharmacy operators, Chemist Warehouse or Woolworths / Countdown between 2013 and 2023.
Yours faithfully,
A McKee
From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand
Tēnā koe,
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Health NZ, Te Whatu Ora.
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From: hnzOIA
Kia ora A,
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Jeremy Short (He/Him)
Senior Advisor | Ministerial Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
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