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