MELTON and Moorabool residents with type 2 diabetes could be stung with higher costs for medication following a review of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.
The federal government has called for submissions to the review, which aims to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes.
It will focus on the overall management of the condition and how all medicines and products are being used to benefit patients.
However, the Australian Diabetes Council is concerned the government will cut costs from the PBS, resulting in increased costs of some type 2 diabetes medications.
A recent review of Alzheimer’s disease medications led to $55.7 million being cut from the PBS.
Melton has Victoria’s highest rate of type 2 diabetes at 9.3 per cent.
In Moorabool, the rate is 5 per cent.
Resident and Melton-Bacchus Marsh Diabetes Support Group member Barbara Theuma has had type 2 diabetes for 23 years.
She said if her medications were removed from the PBS, she wouldn’t be able to pay for other everyday expenses.
Ms Theuma takes two types of insulin and five other medications for high blood pressure and cholesterol caused by her diabetes. Her diabetes medications cost her $5 each on the PBS.
“If all these things get taken off the PBS I wouldn’t be able to buy food or pay for my electricity,” Ms Theuma said.
“It would be hard because some of the medications I’m on [for high blood pressure and cholesterol] aren’t on the PBS.
“When you’re living on a single pension it becomes quite expensive. I personally know of people who don’t take medications because they can’t afford it.”
The review is being completed in three stages, with submissions for stage one and two now closed.
Ms Theuma said she would put in a submission for stage three to express her concerns. She said she was disappointed she didn’t know about the review until last week.
Australian Diabetes Council head of education and prevention Kristen Hazelwood feared the review could have a catastrophic outcome.
“We all know the cost of medications is very high, but with type 2 diabetes those medications act differently with different people. If people have to change medications due to their regular ones being taken off the PBS, that will be a problem.”
Submissions close July 2. Details: pbs.gov.au/info/reviews/diabetes. Melton-Bacchus Marsh Diabetes Support Group: 9743 6488.
