Draconian Monopoly Forced On Diabetics
28 February 2012
Barbara Stewart
New Zealand First
MP
Draconian Monopoly Forced On Diabetics
Forcing 200,000 diabetic New Zealanders to use only one form of glucose-testing equipment is draconian and backward looking says New Zealand First Health spokesperson Barbara Stewart.
Pharmac has proposed that Korean manufactured CareSens products be the sole source of subsidised glucose-testing meters for diabetics in New Zealand.
“The proposed saving of $10 million dollars from only subsidising one product will be reduced by the implementation costs of forcing 200,000 diabetics to use a device few have chosen since it was introduced to the market in 2009.
“Another aspect of the change that merits more consideration is the fact that there would be a sole-supply contract. Relying on one company for such vital medical equipment when there is a range available seems somewhat foolhardy,” said Mrs Stewart.
Diabetes NZ President Chris Baty said that “‘as far as we know almost no-one uses these meters at the moment. It reeks of a monopoly and being told what to do by a corporation’ I couldn’t agree more,” said Ms Stewart.
ENDS