I am writing to confirm that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has now completed its search for the information you requested on 27th April 2009. I wish to advise you that some of the information cannot be disclosed for the reasons given in the annex attached to this letter.

You asked: “Could you please provide me with the amount of money allocated towards providing Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) by your department and the number of people this is capable of treating (assuming 75mg dose, twice daily for five days)”?

The information which can be disclosed in relation to your request is as follows:

The UK government as a whole has now spent over £500m on pandemic preparedness since it began its planning programme. Northern Ireland, along with the rest of the UK, has been preparing for a flu pandemic for the last four years. Consistent with the UK planning assumptions and preparations at a UK level, NI currently has stockpiles of antivirals capable of treating 50% of the population within the recommended treatment guidelines. This is currently being increased to a capacity to treat 80% of the population.

You also asked “Could you also please provide me with the amount of money allocated by your department towards providing surgical masks to the public in the event of a flu pandemic, and the number of masks this provides”?

There are currently no plans at UK level to provide facemasks to members of the public.

The current policy is that surgical masks will only be provided to health and social care workers. On the basis of current scientific evidence, the general wearing of face masks in public places by those who do not have influenza symptoms is not recommended and Government will not provide facemasks for this use. Facemasks for health and social care staff have been stockpiled and these are being increased.

The DHSSPS' policy on the use of facemasks and respirators is set out in the Northern Ireland Contingency Plan for a Health Response for an Influenza Pandemic. This document describes the Department's strategic approach to, and preparations for, an influenza pandemic. The primary aim of this document is to guide and support contingency planning and preparations for pandemic influenza in health and social care organisations. It can be accessed at:

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/ni-contingency-plan-for-health-response-for-fluenza-pandemic.pdf

The NI policy reflects the agreed UK policy as outlined in the UK National framework for responding to an influenza pandemic which can be found at

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_080734

The underpinning scientific evidence base regarding pandemic influenza is set out in the paper produced by the Scientific Advisory Group on Pandemic Influenza, which is available at:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_077276

This should also be read in conjunction with the guidance on infection control in an influenza pandemic, which is available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/PandemicFlu/DH_085433

Applying basic infection control measures and encouraging compliance with public health advice are likely to make an important contribution to the pandemic response. This information can be found in the NI Contingency Plan (as noted above). The focus of the public health messages on preventing the spread of the virus focuses on: using disposable tissues to cover the mouth and nose if one needs to cough or sneeze; binning these immediately; and then washing hands with soap and hot water or a sanitiser handwash. This is the basis of the recent UK public information campaign along with the phrase Catch it Bin it - Kill it.

Further information can be found by following the links on the DHSSPS website www.dhsspsni.gov.uk or on NI Direct website at

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/health-and-well-being/swine-flu.htm

The supply of information under the Freedom of Information Act does not give the recipient or organisation that receives it the automatic right to re-use it in any way that would infringe copyright. This includes, for example, making multiple copies, publishing and issuing copies to the public. Permission to re-use the information must be obtained in advance from the Controller of HMSO who has responsibility for the licensing of Crown copyright material. For further details on how to apply for a licence please see: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index.htm.

You have the right to request that the Department formally review this decision within two calendar months of the date of this letter. If you wish to do so, please write to Mrs Charlene McQuillan, Departmental Information Manager, Room A.3.5b, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ.

If after such an internal review you are still unhappy with the response, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, CHESHIRE SK9 5AF, who will undertake an independent review.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Stephanie Tallentire

Local Information Manager

PUBLIC INTEREST CONSIDERATIONS 27th May 2009

FOI request: DHSSPS 56/2009 19640

Could you please provide me with the amount of money allocated towards providing Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) by your department and the number of people this is capable of treating (assuming 75mg dose, twice daily for five days)?

Exemption - Section 43 (2) Information is exempt if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

Test of Prejudice

There is a significant risk that the release of information in relation to the cost of stockpiles coupled with other information in the public domain could damage the commercial interests of both the procuring department and the suppliers, and prejudice commercial negotiations both here and potentially abroad.

This information is commercially sensitive to both the Department of Health, who procure stockpiles on behalf of the whole of the UK, and to the pharmaceutical companies who supply them.

The procurement of stockpiles of antivirals and facemasks is currently ongoing at UK level and precise quantities to be disbursed across the regions and associated costs have not been finalised. These procurements are subject to full business case approval from HM Treasury.

The Public Interest

In weighing these arguments up account has been taken of the nature of the prejudice to the commercial interest of both the procuring department and the suppliers involved, including the likelihood and magnitude of the prejudice. Consideration has also been given to whether there is an overriding public interest in providing the information. On balance it is considered that the exemption should apply.