5 years ago
MINISTER HUNT FORGETS PROMISES IN A FLASH
CHRIS BOWEN MP
First Minister Hunt broke his promise to Australia’s 120,000 type 1 diabetics, and now he’s pretending he never made it.
In a transcript on the Minister for Health’s website from the 25 November 2018, the Minister said:
“And it’s an absolute privilege and a pleasure to be able to make this announcement today that 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.”
But earlier today in the Federation Chamber, when asked about delivering his promise to list Flash by 1 March 2019, the Minister tried to re-write history.
CHRIS BOWEN, SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH: “You said the first of March.”
GREG HUNT, MINISTER FOR HEALTH: “No – that is not a correct statement. What we committed to was continuous glucose monitoring on the first of March.”
Australia’s diabetics deserve better.
Earlier this week the Parliament was presented with 214,000 signatures requesting the Minister list the Flash glucose monitor on the NDSS as soon as possible.
Flash was approved for use by adults in 2016 and provides an alternative to other technologies, meaning diabetics are able to read glucose levels by holding a reader over a sensor located under the skin. The monitoring system provides a simple way for diabetics or their families to check their glucose levels.
While subsidising Continuous Glucose Monitoring is also crucial, it’s important that Flash is listed to provide diabetics with choice.
Australians with diabetes 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 lying, stop delaying, and list Flash glucose monitoring on the National Diabetes Services Scheme as a matter of critical importance.
In a transcript on the Minister for Health’s website from the 25 November 2018, the Minister said:
“And it’s an absolute privilege and a pleasure to be able to make this announcement today that 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.”
But earlier today in the Federation Chamber, when asked about delivering his promise to list Flash by 1 March 2019, the Minister tried to re-write history.
CHRIS BOWEN, SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH: “You said the first of March.”
GREG HUNT, MINISTER FOR HEALTH: “No – that is not a correct statement. What we committed to was continuous glucose monitoring on the first of March.”
Australia’s diabetics deserve better.
Earlier this week the Parliament was presented with 214,000 signatures requesting the Minister list the Flash glucose monitor on the NDSS as soon as possible.
Flash was approved for use by adults in 2016 and provides an alternative to other technologies, meaning diabetics are able to read glucose levels by holding a reader over a sensor located under the skin. The monitoring system provides a simple way for diabetics or their families to check their glucose levels.
While subsidising Continuous Glucose Monitoring is also crucial, it’s important that Flash is listed to provide diabetics with choice.
Australians with diabetes 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 lying, stop delaying, and list Flash glucose monitoring on the National Diabetes Services Scheme as a matter of critical importance.