19 May 2015
Dear Laydan Mortensen
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Thank you for your request dated 10 May 2015 under the Official Information Act 1982
(OIA) for information relating to the World Health Organisation’s Model Lists of Essential
Medicines (WHO-EM). You asked for:
1. Are there any medicines listed on the WHO-EM that are not listed on the
Pharmaceutical Schedule?
2. Approximately how much (as a number and as a percentage) of the Combined
Pharmaceutical Budget is spent on funding medicines listed on the WHO-EM
I’m sorry that we cannot help you with your request; PHARMAC does not hold the
information you are seeking. This means we must refuse your request under section
18(e) of the OIA.
While both the WHO-EM list and the Pharmaceutical Schedule are publicly available
documents, PHARMAC does not hold any documentation that compares each list. You
can find the Pharmaceutical Schedul
e here. You may consider researching the answer to your first question using the publicly
available information. Please note that the WHO-EM list includes medicines used solely
within a hospital environment. However, the Combined Pharmaceutical Budget does not
cover medicines funded in District Health Board hospitals. Medicines that are funded for
use in DHB Hospitals are found in our Hospital Medicines List
here. If you are not already aware, PHARMAC does publish an annual review which provides
annual costs for commonly used medicines. You can find the annual review
here Please note you have the right, by way of complaint under section 28(3) of the OIA to an
Ombudsman, to seek an investigation and review of our decision.
We are sorry that we are unable to provide the documents that would answer your
queries. However, if you have any further questions, please contact us again.
Yours sincerely
Jude Urlich
Director, Engagement & Implementation
A108045
qA35855
Document Outline
