Stop penny-pinching
I WISH to register a protest at the scaling back of the National Diabetes Service Scheme subsidy for glucometer test strips in the case of type 2 diabetes patients who are non-insulin dependent.
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As one who takes no medication for diabetes, I have been successfully managing my condition mainly through the aid of these strips for a number of years.
Testing several times a day helps me to know how much exercise I need and what changes I may need to make to my diet on a daily basis. The test results are also stored on my glucometer and can be printed out in the form of summary sheets which can be of assistance to my GP at check up time.
I will probably not test myself at the same rate after this cut becomes effective. The cynic in me is whispering in my ear this is the object of the exercise. A box of 100 strips in the brand I use are approximately $16 subsidised and anywhere between $50 and $60 at full price. I acknowledge the subsidy can be maintained by getting a doctor to certify the patient needs the strips but, in reality, how many are going to go to that trouble? I had to get a doctor to certify that I was eligible to join the NDSS in the first place. Do we want our overworked GPs’ time taken up with yet more red tape?
I expect many will reduce drastically the number of tests performed. Some may stop testing altogether, which could have disastrous consequences. Many people's diabetes could worsen, forcing them onto medication and dipping deeper into the public health purse. These little strips are potential lifesavers.
The government has been bleating for some time about the diabetes epidemic. If this pettifogging, penny-pinching exercise is allowed to proceed unchallenged, it better be prepared for a tsunami.
- Craig R Grant, former Ballarat resident
Keep on educating
ON behalf of the Stroke Foundation, I would like to thank the thousands of Australians who helped us educate the community about the importance of knowing the signs of stroke this National Stroke Week. National Stroke Week is our annual campaign to shine the spotlight on stroke, raising awareness of the devastating impact of this insidious disease. Stroke Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about stroke and how they can reduce their own risk. I am confident there are thousands of people in the community who now know about the FAST message thanks to the more than 2500 activities held across the country.
With Stroke Week now wrapped up for 2016, it is vital we remember strokes don't just happen one week of the year. Every 10 minutes an Australian has a stroke. Every 10 minutes someone's life changes forever. Stroke is shockingly common in Australia. Yet despite the devastation it causes, this disease is largely unrecognised by the broader community; until it happens to a loved one, a friend or a colleague. Stroke is largely preventable, but we know that almost 50,000 new and recurring strokes will happen this year. Stroke is treatable, but again we know many stroke patients will miss out on lifesaving treatment because they don't get to hospital on time. Stroke strikes suddenly and often without any warning. When it does happen, every minute counts. For every minute that parts of the brain are left without oxygen, brain cells are dying. A speedy reaction to stroke can mean the difference between life and death or permanent disability. Stroke doesn't have to be a death sentence. It is treatable but people need to know the signs of stroke and get to hospital fast. Thanks to our incredible supporters we were able to spread this message far and wide this Stroke Week, reaching a record number of Australians. It is our mission to stop stroke, save lives and end the suffering caused by this devastating disease. It will take the combined efforts of the community, health professionals and governments to achieve this mission.
- Sharon McGowan, Stroke Foundation chief executive officer