5 years ago
MINISTER HUNT LAGS ON LISTING DIABETES MONITOR
CHRIS BOWEN MP
Despite announcing that Flash monitoring would be listed on the first of March, the Minister for Health has still not listed the glucose monitor on the National Diabetes Services Scheme, making 120,000 diabetes type 1 sufferers wait.
The monitor provides an alternative to other technologies, and means diabetics are able to read glucose levels by holding a reader over a sensor located under the skin. The monitoring system is compatible with mobile devices and provides a simple way for diabetics or their families to check their glucose levels. The Flash monitoring product FreeStyle Libre was approved for use in adults in Australia in 2016.
While subsidising Continuous Glucose Monitoring is also crucial, it’s important that Flash is listed to provide diabetics with choice.
Flash currently costs around $100 a fortnight for the sensors that are disposed of after around two weeks. This means diabetes patients are forking out close to $3,000 a year just to monitor their glucose, and because of the Minister’s delays, they are not getting any Government subsidy.
In a press conference in November 2018, Minister Hunt confirmed that Flash technology would be available on the National Diabetes Services Scheme on 1 March, 2019, stating:
“as of the first of March 2019 the continuous glucose monitoring program will be expanded both in terms of the range of people but also in terms of the options for devices. The Flash glucose monitoring will now also be included alongside the Continuous Glucose Monitoring.”
It is now August and Mr Hunt has not explained to the 120,000 type 1 diabetics why Flash still hasn’t been listed, five months after he said it would be.
Australians with diabetes deserve better, and should be allowed to have their choice of affordable monitoring like those in the thirty-three other countries who provide subsidies for Flash.
Minister Hunt needs to stop delaying and list Flash glucose monitoring on the National Diabetes Services Scheme as a matter of critical importance.
Under this Government, health out of pocket costs and waiting lists are at record highs.
The monitor provides an alternative to other technologies, and means diabetics are able to read glucose levels by holding a reader over a sensor located under the skin. The monitoring system is compatible with mobile devices and provides a simple way for diabetics or their families to check their glucose levels. The Flash monitoring product FreeStyle Libre was approved for use in adults in Australia in 2016.
While subsidising Continuous Glucose Monitoring is also crucial, it’s important that Flash is listed to provide diabetics with choice.
Flash currently costs around $100 a fortnight for the sensors that are disposed of after around two weeks. This means diabetes patients are forking out close to $3,000 a year just to monitor their glucose, and because of the Minister’s delays, they are not getting any Government subsidy.
In a press conference in November 2018, Minister Hunt confirmed that Flash technology would be available on the National Diabetes Services Scheme on 1 March, 2019, stating:
“as of the first of March 2019 the continuous glucose monitoring program will be expanded both in terms of the range of people but also in terms of the options for devices. The Flash glucose monitoring will now also be included alongside the Continuous Glucose Monitoring.”
It is now August and Mr Hunt has not explained to the 120,000 type 1 diabetics why Flash still hasn’t been listed, five months after he said it would be.
Australians with diabetes deserve better, and should be allowed to have their choice of affordable monitoring like those in the thirty-three other countries who provide subsidies for Flash.
Minister Hunt needs to stop delaying and list Flash glucose monitoring on the National Diabetes Services Scheme as a matter of critical importance.
Under this Government, health out of pocket costs and waiting lists are at record highs.