The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand Friday 10 August 2012, 3:09PM
Media release from The Pharmacy Guild of New
Zealand
The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) supports PHARMAC's
changes to funding diabetes management products - as long as there
is comprehensive support in place before the changes take place and
an excellent implementation process.
"This is a huge change for patients managing diabetes," says the
Guild's Executive Chair, Karen Crisp. "Our members are committed to
supporting their patients through this transition as we understand
the challenge this change poses. The Guild will be working with
PHARMAC to ensure its members are fully informed of the
changes."
The Guild understands that these changes give patients access to
modern higher-spec meters and increases the access to insulin pumps
for eligible patients. We are delighted that PHARMAC is investing
in improvements to diabetes management devices. While we don't yet
have the information on the education planned for patients on the
new products, we have no doubt that pharmacy will have a key role
working to support patients during this time.
"Community pharmacists are the health professional patients see
most often and are well positioned to ensure patients continue to
receive high quality diabetes care in the primary care setting,"
says Mrs Crisp.
To read the Guild's submission to PHARMAC on changes to the
diabetes management products, please go to www.pgnz.org.nz.