ME/CFS - evidence based treatments
Dear Department of Health,
I am seeking a copy of guidelines/information sheets/correspondence containing a list of evidence based drugs for treating the neurological condition myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Yours faithfully,
Julie Keys
Good afternoon Ms Keys,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
A copy of guidelines/information sheets/correspondence containing a list
of evidence-based drugs for treating the neurological condition Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0036 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 2 October 2024. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 1 November 2024.
The period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise:
· any draft and duplicate documents will be excluded from the scope
of your request, and
· any public service employee names below Senior Executive Service
level and direct telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the
scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Julie Keys [4][FOI #12132 email]
Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 9:04 PM
To: FOI [5][email address]
Subject: Freedom of Information request - ME/CFS - evidence based
treatments
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Dear Department of Health,
I am seeking a copy of guidelines/information sheets/correspondence
containing a list of evidence based drugs for treating the neurological
condition myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Yours faithfully,
Julie Keys
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FOI #12132 email]
Is [7][Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[9]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
Dear Ms Keys
We refer to your FOI request received on 2 October 2024.
Please find attached a decision on access.
If you have any queries in relation to this decision, please contact the
FOI Section on the details below.
Yours sincerely
Guy
Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional
custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and
community. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear FOI,
I note that despite extensive searches the Department of Health and Aged Care has been unable to locate any internal correspondence relating to evidence based treatments for ME/CFS.
Whilst I appreciate the effort made to date, I find it extraordinary that the Department has not found any correspondence about a disease that pre Covid was found to affect more than 250 000 Australians (25% of them bed or housebound).
Yours sincerely,
Julie Keys
Dear Ms Keys,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION INTERNAL REVIEW REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF RECEIPT
I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health and Aged Care
(department) has received your request for an Internal Review of a
decision on access made by the department on 30 October 2024 under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).
The department has 30 calendar days after the date your request was
received (7 November 2024) to notify you of its decision on the internal
review.
You can contact the FOI Section via email at [1][email address], should
you have any questions.
Kind regards,
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[4][FOI #12132 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[5]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email
4. mailto:[FOI #12132 email]
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Dear Ms Keys
I refer to your FOI internal review request received on 7 November 2024.
Please find attached a decision on access.
If you have any queries in relation to this decision, please contact the
FOI Section on the details below.
Yours sincerely
Guy
Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional
custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and
community. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Guy
Thank you for your response and you had found a list of drugs recommended for people with ME/CFS that would have been adequate to meet my request.
The NDIA has a list of drugs that it expects a person with ME/CFS to try before being eligible for the NDIS.
I am seeking a copy of correspondence/guidelines etc that detail which drugs are recommended to be prescribed for a person with ME/CFS in Australia.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Keys
Good afternoon Ms Keys,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
correspondence/guidelines etc that detail which drugs are recommended to
be prescribed for a person with ME/CFS in Australia.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0162 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.
Request for 14 day extension due to agency shutdown
Your request was received on 9 December 2024. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is currently 30 calendar days, and the department
is required to provide you with an access decision on or before 10 January
2025.
Many areas of the department, including the FOI Section, will be/were
closed from 25 December 2024 to 1 January 2025 inclusive.
To ensure the department has sufficient time to process your request, we
are seeking your agreement to extend the period for completing your FOI
request by 14 days (under section 15AA of the FOI Act).
If you agree to this extension, the department would be required to
provide you with an access decision by 24 January 2025.
If you agree to this extension, please let us know by return email to
[1][Health request email] by close of business 18 December 2024. The department
will then notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
(OAIC) of the agreed extension of time.
If you do not agree to the extension, the department may request the
extension from the OAIC under section 15AB of the FOI Act.
The department will process your request as soon as possible within any
extended timeframe.
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by 18
December 2025, if you agree that information regarding any public service
employee names below Senior Executive Service level and direct telephone
numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your request under
s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge, you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise any draft and duplicate documents will be
excluded from the scope of your request.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[2]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [3][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Jordan(he/him)
FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [4][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
Good morning Ms Keys,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
a copy of correspondence/guidelines etc that detail which drugs are
recommended to be prescribed for a person with ME/CFS in Australia.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0162. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 16 December 2024. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 8 January 2025.
The period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise:
o any draft and duplicate documents will be excluded from the scope of
your request, and
o any public service employee names below Senior Executive Service level
and direct telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the
scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
Good morning Ms Keys,
Please disregard our previous e-mail.
To clarify -
Your request was received on 9 December 2024. Statutory cutoff date for
your request will be maintained at 8 January 2025.
We apologise for the confusion on the matter.
We will continue to process your request with these dates in mind.
Thank you.
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 17 December 2024 10:36 AM
To: Julie Keys <[FOI #12132 email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request 25-0162 LD – Acknowledgement of
Receipt [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Good morning Ms Keys,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
a copy of correspondence/guidelines etc that detail which drugs are
recommended to be prescribed for a person with ME/CFS in Australia.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0162. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 16 December 2024. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 8 January 2025.
The period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise:
o any draft and duplicate documents will be excluded from the scope of
your request, and
o any public service employee names below Senior Executive Service level
and direct telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the
scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
Good evening Ms Keys,
I refer to your request to the Department of Health and Aged Care (the
department) of 9 December 2024 seeking access to the following under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act):
a copy of correspondence/guidelines etc that detail which
drugs are recommended to be prescribed for a person with ME/CFS in
Australia.
The statutory due date for your request is currently 8 January 2025.
Request for extension of time
Section 15AA of the FOI Act permits the department to extend the statutory
processing timeframe, with your agreement, for a period of up to 30
calendar days.
Many areas of the department, including the FOI Section, will be closed
from 25 December 2024 to 1 January 2025 inclusive.
To ensure that department has undertaken all reasonable steps to identify
all documents relevant to your request, and for the decision maker to make
a well-balanced decision on access to any such documents identified, the
department is seeking your agreement to an extension of 7 calendar days.
If you agree to this extension, the statutory due date will then be 15
January 2025. The department will, however, continue to process your
request as quickly as possible.
It would assist if you could please advise by 19 December 2024 if you
agree to this extension of time. If we do not hear from you by this date
or if you do not agree to the extension, the department may consider
seeking an extension of time from the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) under section 15AB of the FOI Act.
We thank you for your ongoing patience and cooperation as we continue to
process your request.
If you have any questions regarding any of the matters discussed in this
email, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section at
[1][email address].
Kind regards,
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional owners
of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to
elders both past and present
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 17 December 2024 10:36 AM
To: Julie Keys <[FOI #12132 email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request 25-0162 LD – Acknowledgement of
Receipt [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Good morning Ms Keys,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
a copy of correspondence/guidelines etc that detail which drugs are
recommended to be prescribed for a person with ME/CFS in Australia.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0162. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 16 December 2024. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 8 January 2025.
The period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise:
o any draft and duplicate documents will be excluded from the scope of
your request, and
o any public service employee names below Senior Executive Service level
and direct telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the
scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[3]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [4][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [5][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.