Chemists

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for the average pay of chemists and their average profit on medications. The authority refused to provide the information, stating it was not held and would require the creation of new data.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2019-04-03 and responded to on 2019-04-16.
• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the requested data on chemist pay or profits.
• Complying with the request would require the authority to create, derive, or undertake research.
• The authority suggested contacting Community Pharmacists or their employing companies directly.
• The request was closed with the outcome 'Information not held'.

Data Disclosed

• 2019-04-03
• 2019-04-16
• 785566
• section 8(3)
• 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 8(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (information not held/requirement to create data)

Original Request

What is the average pay made to the Chemists? Does the Chemists retain the profit on medications, if so what is the average profit?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC, Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas IM1 3QA

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 785566 16th April 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 3rd April 2019 and states:

Question: "What is the average pay made to the Chemists? Does the Chemists retain the profit on medications, if so what is the average profit?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with the request for information would require the public authority to do one or more of the matters mentioned in section 8(3) (things a public authority is not required to do by the Act); In this instance complying with your request for information would require the DHSC to create, derive or undertake research for the information. You may wish to contact the Chemists (by which we mean Community Pharmacists) or the companies employing them to see if they may share their data.

Please quote the reference number 785566 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.

Yours sincerely