Medication availability

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the availability, patient numbers, and future commissioning plans for the drug Nintedanib on the Isle of Man. The authority refused to provide the information, stating it is not held by them and may be held by Manx Care.

Key Facts

• The request concerned the drug Nintedanib, expected to come off patent in March 2026.
• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the requested information.
• The information may be held by Manx Care, which delivers health and social care services.
• The Department's role is strategic direction, regulation, and commissioning, not direct service delivery.
• The requester was advised to re-submit the request to Manx Care.

Data Disclosed

• March 2026
• 5 years
• 9 December 2025
• 16 December 2025
• 5151502

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Act (Information not held)

Original Request

Dear FOI Officer, I would like to request the following information regarding prescribing the drug Nintedanib which I understand is due to come off patent in March 2026. 1. Availability * Has Nintedanib ever been available or prescribed on the Isle of Man? * If it is not currently available, please explain the reason 2. Patient numbers * How many patients have been prescribed Nintedanib in the past 5 years (broken down by year if possible)? 3. Future plans * Given that the drug is expected to come off patent in March 2026, are there any plans to review its availability or commissioning? * Personal identifiable information removed* I appreciate that FOI response times are set by law, but any guidance or clarification as soon as possible would be extremely helpful. I would prefer to receive the information by email.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Officer: Tim O’Neill Freedom of Information Team First Floor Belgravia House Circular Road Douglas IM1 1AE

Our ref: 5151502 16 December 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 9 December 2025, which states:

"Dear FOI Officer,

I would like to request the following information regarding prescribing the drug Nintedanib which I understand is due to come off patent in March 2026.
1. Availability
Has Nintedanib ever been available or prescribed on the Isle of Man?
If it is not currently available, please explain the reason
2. Patient numbers
How many patients have been prescribed Nintedanib in the past 5 years (broken down by year if possible)?
3. Future plans
Given that the drug is expected to come off patent in March 2026, are there any plans to review its availability or commissioning?

Personal identifiable information removed I appreciate that FOI response times are set by law, but any guidance or clarification as soon as possible would be extremely helpful.

I would prefer to receive the information by email."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested as it may be held by Manx Care.

You may wish to re-submit your request to Manx Care which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who may be able to help you.

To provide advice and assistance, the Department of Health and Social Care sets the strategic direction to develop and evolve the Island’s approach to health and social

care delivery, regulation, and commissioning as set by the vision outlined in the Department Plan. The delivery of health and social care services to patients and service users on the Isle of Man are provided by Manx Care and its contracted service providers

Please quote the reference number 5151502 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.