Health Minister to launch new subsidy

Sourced: Diabetes Australia Dated: 31.10.2008

The Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, will this Saturday launch the ‘Type 1 Diabetes Insulin Pump Program’ – a new collaboration between the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Diabetes Australia and the Department of Health and Ageing.

Carers of children under 18 that have type 1 diabetes will now be able to apply for subsidies of between $500 and $2,500 towards the purchase of an insulin pump, with new funding from the Australian Government announced in the budget earlier this year.

This program will potentially impact around 700 Australian children with type 1 diabetes who would benefit from moving from multiple daily insulin injection of insulin pump therapy.

Research shows insulin pumps help in the management of type 1 diabetes by minimising the dangerous fluctuations in blood glucose levels that can result in long-term health complications such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, limb amputation or coma. Insulin pumps also alleviate the intrusive daily regime of diet management and insulin injections.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson says this funding will make a difference to families who otherwise would not be able to afford this important technology for their child. “All families want to give their child the best possible chance of health but when your child has type 1 diabetes this becomes urgent. Sadly some just can’t afford the full cost of an insulin pump.

“In addition to important health benefits, insulin pumps can make a difference to the whole family – life doesn’t have to be planned around insulin injections and children can more easily play sport, go on a school camp or stay over at a friend’s house.”

JDRF worked closely with Diabetes Australia to raise awareness about the benefits of insulin pumps and develop this program. Diabetes Australia CEO Matt O’Brien said

“We would like to see a significant increase in access to insulin pump therapy for Australians with type 1 diabetes and we congratulate the government on establishing this subsidy program as a first step towards this goal.  Insulin pump therapy offers people with type 1 diabetes a range of benefits including the opportunity to gain quality of life improvements. 

Making insulin pumps more affordable through initiatives such as the subsidy program helps address the financial obstacles that may prevent some Australian families from being able to access the benefits of insulin pump therapy.”

“Type 1 diabetes incidence is rising so we need to invest in the best diabetes management practices to give these young people the best possible future.”

The Type 1 Diabetes Insulin Pump Program will provide subsidies of between $500 and $2,500 for the supply of insulin pumps to eligible people under the age of eighteen with type 1 diabetes. 

A minimum subsidy of $500 will be available to approved applicants.  An additional means-tested component will bring the maximum subsidy to $2,500, based on a sliding scale reflecting family income.