5 July 2016
Dear Shane
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Thank you for your request dated 9 June 2016 under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
for information relating to any Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA)
applications for intrathecal baclofen for the treatment of severe spasticity related to MS or
other conditions.
You wanted to know how many NPPA applications were made, how many were approved
and what costs were involved with these approved requests on an annual basis and
averaged out per patient.
PHARMAC’s NPPA Panel has received one application for intrathecal baclofen. This
application was for a patient with unusual clinical circumstances. The cost information for this
treatment cannot be provided in response to your request as it may contribute to identifying
the patient by disclosing specific details around their dosage of baclofen. We can however,
give you the cost that was approved at $230.22 per 5 ml.
We have withheld the information noted just above as we consider this is necessary to
protect the privacy of natural persons (section 9(2)(a)).
As required under the OIA, we also considered whether, in the circumstances, the
withholding of this information was outweighed by other considerations which render it
desirable, in the public interest, to make this information available. In this case we did not
consider that the public interest outweighed the reasons for withholding the information.
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 trust that the provision of this material is helpful. If you have any further questions please
feel free to contact us again.
Yours sincerely
Peter Alsop
Director, Engagement and Implementation
A917474 - qA40501