2 Feb 2023
Ken Orr
By email: ken@righttolife.org.nz Ref: H2023019594
Tēnā koe Ken
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 26 January 2023. You requested:
“The names of the pharmacists who have indicated to your Ministry that they are prepared to dispense mifepristone and misoprostol for the purpose of killing an unborn child in a medical abortion” (Right to Life emphasis)
Manatū Hauora responds to all official information requests made in good faith in accordance with the requirements of the Act. However, the language and tone of your request lead us to question whether your request has been made in good faith. Rather than refuse your request as frivolous or vexatious at this stage, we are providing a response in line with section 13 of the Act. For future requests, we invite you to consider submitting requests in more appropriate terms. If you choose not to, we will consider whether it is necessary to refuse your request as frivolous or vexatious under section 18(h) of the Act. (Right to Life emphasis)
Manatū Hauora holds a list of pharmacists who are willing to dispense mifepristone and misoprostol; however, this does not indicate that they have dispensed or currently dispense this medication. The names of the pharmacists are withheld under the following sections of the Act:
• 9(2)(a) to protect to the privacy of natural persons; and
• 9(2)(g)(ii) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection of employees from improper pressure or harassment.
Where information is withheld under section 9 of the Act, I have considered the countervailing public interest in releasing information and consider that it does not outweigh the need to withhold at this time.
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: info@ombudsman.parliament.nz 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
Ruihua Gu
Acting Group Manager, Quality Assurance and Safety Regulatory Services | Te Pou Whakariterite Ratonga