Suspicious Medicine Usage
David Robinson made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for David Robinson to read recent responses and update the status.
From: David Robinson
Dear Ministry of Health,
Between 2020 and present day, New Zealand's medicines supply has been seriously impacted by a range of events. These include changing global markets and COVID. Most recently, the fuel supply shock threatens both the manufacture of medicines as well as their transport.
Given the widespread dependence on unapproved medicines since this time:
- Provide information on Ministry, and Health New Zealand's guidance to organisations to ensure that these medicines were known not to be counterfeit, expired, perished, nor have any other issues with them.
- Provide information on how many medicines were imported where the original package writing wasn't in English, which languages they were in, and what steps Ministry took to ensure the provenance of the medicines.
- What briefings did Ministry and Health New Zealand, receive about the supply chain issue, and that there were potential issues with the supply chain.
- For the large numbers of suspicious and unapproved medicines used across New Zealand, outline the steps that Ministry and Health New Zealand took to ensure that health managers were aware of this issue, and that clinicians knew about their obligation to obtain consent and to provide open disclosure.
- Provide information on the number of incidents submitted to health incident managements systems, in both Health New Zealand hospitals, air and road ambulance, primary care and private hospitals, and what steps were taken to communicate about this with health providers.
- Describe the number of deaths that were reported in association with suspicious or unapproved medicines in New Zealand, since 2020, and where possible, provide an estimate of how many deaths, and SAC1-4 incidents, may have been associated with these, and what steps have been taken to investigate these.
- Where deaths occurred in association with suspicious or unapproved medicines during this time period, what was the interval between these being reported to Ministry and Health New Zealand, and being reported to the coroner. What was the interval in them being reported to the coroner. What was the interveal in them being reported to police.
- Where the deaths were already known to be unnatural (such as suicides or homicides), and suspicious or unapproved medicines were used, what was the average interval between being notified about these concerns, and notifying the coroner, police, courts, prosecutors, and defendants?
- Where intermediaries are known to have facilitated the importing and distribution of suspicious or unknown medicines in New Zealand, what steps were taken to investigate them and what actions were taken to prevent further harm, particularly in the context of the current global supply shock.
- Did any particular organisations use suspicious or unapproved medicines more than any others, and if so, has Ministry or Health New Zealand, taken any steps to ascertain what the reasons for this were, and to prevent any further harm?
Yours faithfully,
David Robinson
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
The Ministry of Health is taking a short break over Easter from 3 April to
7 April 2026. During this time this inbox will not be monitored. We will
endeavor to respond to your email upon our return.
Have a safe and happy Easter weekend.
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
show quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora David,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora on 6 April 2026.
You requested:
"- Provide information on Ministry, and Health New Zealand's guidance to
organisations to ensure that these medicines were known not to be
counterfeit, expired, perished, nor have any other issues with them.
- Provide information on how many medicines were imported where the
original package writing wasn't in English, which languages they were in,
and what steps Ministry took to ensure the provenance of the medicines.
- What briefings did Ministry and Health New Zealand, receive about the
supply chain issue, and that there were potential issues with the supply
chain.
- For the large numbers of suspicious and unapproved medicines used across
New Zealand, outline the steps that Ministry and Health New Zealand took
to ensure that health managers were aware of this issue, and that
clinicians knew about their obligation to obtain consent and to provide
open disclosure.
- Provide information on the number of incidents submitted to health
incident managements systems, in both Health New Zealand hospitals, air
and road ambulance, primary care and private hospitals, and what steps
were taken to communicate about this with health providers.
- Describe the number of deaths that were reported in association with
suspicious or unapproved medicines in New Zealand, since 2020, and where
possible, provide an estimate of how many deaths, and SAC1-4 incidents,
may have been associated with these, and what steps have been taken to
investigate these.
- Where deaths occurred in association with suspicious or unapproved
medicines during this time period, what was the interval between these
being reported to Ministry and Health New Zealand, and being reported to
the coroner. What was the interval in them being reported to the coroner.
What was the interveal in them being reported to police.
- Where the deaths were already known to be unnatural (such as suicides or
homicides), and suspicious or unapproved medicines were used, what was the
average interval between being notified about these concerns, and
notifying the coroner, police, courts, prosecutors, and defendants?
- Where intermediaries are known to have facilitated the importing and
distribution of suspicious or unknown medicines in New Zealand, what steps
were taken to investigate them and what actions were taken to prevent
further harm, particularly in the context of the current global supply
shock.
- Did any particular organisations use suspicious or unapproved medicines
more than any others, and if so, has Ministry or Health New Zealand, taken
any steps to ascertain what the reasons for this were, and to prevent any
further harm?"
The reference number for your request is H2026081056. We will endeavour to
respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than
5 May 2026 being 20 working days after the day your request was received.
If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries regarding your request, please feel free to
contact the OIA Services Team on [1][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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
show quoted sections
References
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mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: OIA Requests
Tēnā koe David,
Please find attached a letter notifying you of partial transfer of your
request (ref: H2026081071) under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act.
If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to get in
touch with the OIA team at: [1][email address].
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
show quoted sections
References
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1. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora David,
Apologies, our earlier email included the wrong reference number. The
Ministry has partially transferred your request (ref: H2026081056) under
section 14(b)(i) of the Act.
If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to get in
touch with the OIA team at: [1][email address].
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
show quoted sections
From: hnzOIA
Tçnâ koe,
Thank you for your email.
Under the Official Information Act (OIA), agencies are required to respond
to requests for official information as soon as reasonably practicable and
no later than 20 working days after receiving them.
If your request is for data that Health NZ holds, have you checked
[1]Lighthouse first to see if the data you are seeking is already
published?
Lighthouse is a searchable catalogue that makes a range of data and
analytics products available to New Zealanders to enable easier, faster
access to insights about health services.
You can find further information about how OIA timeframes are calculated,
including the Ombudsman’s OIA calculator, at the link below:
[2]Official information calculators | Ombudsman New Zealand
We will provide a response to your request in line with the statutory
timeframes set out in the OIA.
We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.
Ngâ mihi,
Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora
Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
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https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/agen...
From: OIA@justice.govt.nz
Tçnâ koe David,
The Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) acknowledges receipt of the
following parts of your request under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act) which was transferred from the Ministry of Health:
“- Describe the number of deaths that were reported in association with
suspicious or unapproved medicines in New Zealand, since 2020, and where
possible, provide an estimate of how many deaths, and SAC1-4 incidents,
may have been associated with these, and what steps have been taken to
investigate these.
- Where deaths occurred in association with suspicious or unapproved
medicines during this time period, what was the interval between these
being reported to Ministry and Health New Zealand, and being reported to
the coroner. What was the interval in them being reported to the coroner.
What was the interval in them being reported to police.
- Where the deaths were already known to be unnatural (such as suicides or
homicides), and suspicious or unapproved medicines were used, what was the
average interval between being notified about these concerns, and
notifying the coroner, police, courts, prosecutors, and defendants?”
This has been forwarded to the Operations and Service Delivery unit to
respond to.
The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website. You
can expect that if the response is to be published that this will take
place at least 10 working days after the response has been sent to you.
Your name and any other personal information will be withheld under
Section 9(2)(a) (protect the privacy of natural persons) of the Act. If
you do not want the response to your request published on the Ministry’s
website, please contact us on receipt of this email.
You can expect a response by 19/05/2026.
Ngâ mihi
Ministerial Services
Communications and Ministerial Services |Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tâhû o te Ture
DX Box SX 10088 | Wellington
[1]www.justice.govt.nz
show quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora David,
Thank you for your request for official information received on 6 April
2026. Some parts of your request have been transferred to Pharmac, the
Ministry of Justice and Health New Zealand. The Ministry will be
responding to the following parts of your request:
“- Provide information on Ministry, and Health New Zealand's guidance to
organisations to ensure that these medicines were known not to be
counterfeit, expired, perished, nor have any other issues with them.
- What briefings did Ministry and Health New Zealand, receive about the
supply chain issue, and that there were potential issues with the supply
chain.
- Provide information on the number of incidents submitted to health
incident managements systems, in both Health New Zealand hospitals, air
and road ambulance, primary care and private hospitals, and what steps
were taken to communicate about this with health providers.
- Where intermediaries are known to have facilitated the importing and
distribution of suspicious or unknown medicines in New Zealand, what steps
were taken to investigate them and what actions were taken to prevent
further harm, particularly in the context of the current global supply
shock.
- Did any particular organisations use suspicious or unapproved medicines
more than any others, and if so, has Ministry or Health New Zealand, taken
any steps to ascertain what the reasons for this were, and to prevent any
further harm?”
We are contacting you to clarify parts of your request.
Please clarify what type of "incidents" you are requesting information on
in regards to your question about health incident management systems. All
incidents is too broad, could your request be narrowed down to certain
types of incidents?
Please clarify what "intermediaries" are in regards to your question about
investigating importing and distributing of suspicious or unknown
medicines in New Zealand. Are you meaning authorised prescribers, licensed
wholesalers, or something else?
Please also clarify this question: "- Did any particular organisations use
suspicious or unapproved medicines more than any others, and if so, has
Ministry or Health New Zealand, taken any steps to ascertain what the
reasons for this were, and to prevent any further harm?”
What did you mean by "organisations" and could you please clarify what
"more than others" means - could you provide a number or some other
metric.
Please respond by the end of the day on Friday 24 April. We look forward
to receiving your response.
Ngâ mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatû Hauora
show quoted sections
From: Web Enquiry
Kia ora David
Thank you for your request for official information received on 20 April
2026. Our reference number for your request is: 2025-26-221
You should receive a response from us on or before 19 May 2026. This is
within the 20 working day limit set out in the Official Information Act.
The response date shown takes into account:
1. Anzac Day (27 April 2026)
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Ngā mihi,
Government Services | Pharmac
show quoted sections
From: hnzOIA
Kia ora David,
Thank you for your request for information regarding Suspicious Medicine
Usage on 20 April 2026. Please find attached our response to your request.
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][email address]
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi,
Cassandra
Government Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Statement of confidentiality: This email 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. mailto:[email address]
2. file:///tmp/
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Please find attached the response to your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
show quoted sections
From: OIA@justice.govt.nz
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UNCLASSIFIED
Tçnâ koe David,
Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your request for official
information.
Ngâ mihi,
+--------------------------------------------+
| |Communications and Ministerial Services | |
| |Corporate Services |
| | |
| |Ministry of Justice | Tâhû o te Ture |
| |Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street, |
| |Wellington (6011) |
| | |
| |[1][email address]|
| | |
| |[2][email address] |
| | |
| |[3][email address] |
| | |
| |[4]justice.govt.nz |
+--------------------------------------------+
UNCLASSIFIED
From: [email address] <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 April 2026 9:18 am
To: [FOI #34400 email]
Subject: Acknowledgement (ref: 131950) - Official Information request -
Suspicious Medicine Usage
Tçnâ koe David,
The Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) acknowledges receipt of the
following parts of your request under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act) which was transferred from the Ministry of Health:
“- Describe the number of deaths that were reported in association with
suspicious or unapproved medicines in New Zealand, since 2020, and where
possible, provide an estimate of how many deaths, and SAC1-4 incidents,
may have been associated with these, and what steps have been taken to
investigate these.
- Where deaths occurred in association with suspicious or unapproved
medicines during this time period, what was the interval between these
being reported to Ministry and Health New Zealand, and being reported to
the coroner. What was the interval in them being reported to the coroner.
What was the interval in them being reported to police.
- Where the deaths were already known to be unnatural (such as suicides or
homicides), and suspicious or unapproved medicines were used, what was the
average interval between being notified about these concerns, and
notifying the coroner, police, courts, prosecutors, and defendants?”
This has been forwarded to the Operations and Service Delivery unit to
respond to.
The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website. You
can expect that if the response is to be published that this will take
place at least 10 working days after the response has been sent to you.
Your name and any other personal information will be withheld under
Section 9(2)(a) (protect the privacy of natural persons) of the Act. If
you do not want the response to your request published on the Ministry’s
website, please contact us on receipt of this email.
You can expect a response by 19/05/2026.
Ngâ mihi
Ministerial Services
Communications and Ministerial Services |Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tâhû o te Ture
DX Box SX 10088 | Wellington
[5]www.justice.govt.nz
show quoted sections
From: Web Enquiry
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OIA response letter 2025 26 221.pdf
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Kia ora David
Please find attached a response to your request for official information.
Ngā mihi,
Government Services | Pharmac
___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington
[1]www.pharmac.govt.nz
________________
From: Web Enquiry
Sent: Wednesday, 22 April 2026 5:49 pm
To: 'David Robinson' <[FOI #34400 email]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of your request for official information -
2025-26-221
Kia ora David
Thank you for your request for official information received on 20 April
2026. Our reference number for your request is: 2025-26-221
You should receive a response from us on or before 19 May 2026. This is
within the 20 working day limit set out in the Official Information Act.
The response date shown takes into account:
1. Anzac Day (27 April 2026)
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Ngā mihi,
Government Services | Pharmac
show quoted sections
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