Changes to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme have left the diabetic community “a mess”, says Warrnambool diabetes educator Anne Morris.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“The reality is people with diabetes have not been able to access their required supplies and it has been a massive issue,” she said.
The federal government removed the subsidy on blood-glucose test strips for people with type-two diabetes who are not insulin dependent from July 1, affecting more than 200,000 Victorians, including 3500 people in the south-west.
Access to the strips is no longer universal following the Health Minister’s belief they were being wasted – a view not shared by practitioners or diabetes services.
People registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme are given an initial six months worth of blood-glucose strips with further supply then approved on clinical grounds. Outside the scheme, the cost will rise from $1.20 to $60.
“There was an assumption made that people with type-two don’t need to monitor their condition,” Ms Morris said. “But both are significant conditions and it smacks in the face of everything we’ve tried to educate for years.”
Ms Morris said the government clearly had no idea of the chaos the change had caused with patients.
“People have better control because they can see it and they get intervention much sooner,” she said “Blood-glucose strips have been a big part of basic education and empower people to manage their condition.”
To add to the confusion, the distribution of insulin pumps for type-one has been altered and poorly communicated according to Ms Morris.
“Some pharmacies have run out of normal supplies,” she said.
Diabetes Victoria reports that community pharmacies have become access points for people registered with the scheme to get diabetes management products.
Chief executive Craig Bennett said the change “didn’t go particularly well”.
“It’s created back orders and delay,” he said. “We’re almost at the end of that now and there will be no subsequent delays.”
Mr Bennett said the changes were made by the Commonwealth despite feedback provided.
‘We warned them about lots of the things but they didn't change their minds,” he said. “We’re very anxious… It is unsettling… and it has created issues.”
Mr Bennett said the biggest issue would be in six-months with clinical approval required to re-supply blood-glucose strips.
“We cannot alter the decision,” he said. “We are required to implement changes as best we can and make sure impacts are minimised.”
Those with diabetes are urged to keep twice-yearly appointments with clinicians to ensure their blood glucose strip supply continues.
Anyone seeking clarification is urged to visit NDSS.com.au or Health.gov.au or call 1300 136 588.