Diabetes management products – excellent support needed

MEDIA RELEASE

8 August 2012

Changes to diabetes management products – excellent support and implementation needed
The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) supports PHARMAC’s changes to funding diabetes management products - as long as there is comprehensive support in place before the changes take place and an excellent implementation process.

“This is a huge change for patients managing diabetes,” says the Guild’s Executive Chair, Karen Crisp. “Our members are committed to supporting their patients through this transition as we understand the challenge this change poses. The Guild will be working with PHARMAC to ensure its members are fully informed of the changes.”

The Guild understands that these changes give patients access to modern higher-spec meters and increases the access to insulin pumps for eligible patients. We are delighted that PHARMAC is investing in improvements to diabetes management devices. While we don’t yet have the information on the education planned for patients on the new products, we have no doubt that pharmacy will have a key role working to support patients during this time.

“Community pharmacists are the health professional patients see most often and are well positioned to ensure patients continue to receive high quality diabetes care in the primary care setting,” says Mrs Crisp.

To read the Guild’s submission to PHARMAC on changes to the diabetes management products, please go to www.pgnz.org.nz.

ENDS

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