Labor’s cruel silence for the diabetes community
Affordable access to the life-changing
insulin Fiasp is set to be ripped away from more than 15,000 Australians with
diabetes on 1 October 2023.
This follows the
Albanese Labor Government’s decision to schedule this innovative drug for
removal from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in March, without any
consultation or warning for the Type 1 diabetes community.
Following
significant advocacy from the sector, patients and the Coalition, the Minister
was forced into providing a temporary 6-month extension to keep Fiasp on the
PBS, which ends in a few weeks’ time.
As the end date to
the extension looms over the diabetes community, the Minister for Health Mark
Butler has been completely silent on whether users will still have affordable
access to Fiasp from 1 October 2023.
This is creating an
unacceptable level of uncertainty for 15,000 Australians and their families who
rely on this fast-acting form of insulin that is literally life-changing.
This did not need to
happen in the first place. The Minister has still not explained why he decided
not to use his ministerial discretion to ensure Fiasp can remain permanently on
the PBS, rather than pursing a band-aid response with this temporary extension.
He has even
attempted to mislead the diabetes community by falsely indicating that the
manufacturer was not willing to come to the table on a solution and that the
Minister has no legal power to intervene.
The Shadow Minister
for Health and Aged Care, Anne Ruston said that the Coalition understands how
the fast-acting nature of Fiasp is life-changing for users compared to other
available forms of insulin.
“I have heard from
parents across the country who have told me how the fast-acting nature of Fiasp
has changed the lives of their children. It has brought spontaneity back into
their daily life and let them participate in sports and other activities in the
same way as their peers.”
“The Minister must
provide immediate certainty to the Type 1 diabetes community about the ongoing
availability of this critical drug on the PBS and whether he has pursued a
permanent solution.”
“It is
unconscionable that Minister Butler continues to leave 15,000 families in the
dark and has shirked any responsibility for the way this issue has been
handled,” Senator Ruston said.