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

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