Acces And Affordability Keys To Diabetes Crisis In Ontario: Report

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 10 Sep 2007 - 1:00 PST

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85 per cent of Ontarians agree that the government should invest in programs and services to support Ontarians living with diabetes, a new report from the Canadian Diabetes Association released today states. The report titled Tackling Diabetes in Ontario outlines the Canadian Diabetes Association's recommendations for improving the management, care, and prevention of diabetes in Ontario and is a call to action for the provincial political parties as they prepare for the October 10 election.

The report recommends the immediate establishment of a renewed Ontario Diabetes Strategy that reviews existing provincial diabetes policies, programs and strategies to make tackling diabetes a priority in Ontario.

"Diabetes that is out of control affects all of us," said Karen Philp, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations, Canadian Diabetes Association. "The rapid, uncontrolled escalation of the numbers of Ontarians being diagnosed with diabetes puts serious pressure on our publicly funded healthcare system increasing wait times and emergency room overcrowding."

"Every 8 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes in Ontario," said Gary O'Connor, Executive Director, Ontario, Canadian Diabetes Association. "It's then that they discover the personal cost of managing their diabetes impacts not only themselves, but their whole family, every day for the rest of their lives."

The report calls for the provision of fair and equitable access to diabetes medications, devices and supplies for all Ontarians living with diabetes.

If reliant on the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan, Ontarians can only access 6 of 16 safe, effective diabetes medications. Canadians with diabetes have more medications available to them in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

"Access and affordability remain the primary challenges for Ontarians to manage their diabetes, said O'Connor. "Ontarians reliant on ODB have less choice in their prescription medications, and for others, when it costs over $2,000 each year out of pocket to buy their prescribed medications and supplies, it is difficult to save for their children's education or retirement."

Ontarians with type 1 diabetes pay on average $932.58 a year for their medications, devices and supplies. They would pay less if they lived in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Ontarians with type 2 diabetes pay an annual $2,104.89 out of pocket for their prescription diabetes medications and supplies. Canadians living in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut pay less each year than Ontarians with type 2.

In addition, the report states that the majority of Ontarians recognize the importance of preventing type 2 diabetes in the first place, and 65 per cent support more government effort to help prevent type 2 diabetes and to prevent the complications arising from diabetes.

"Government needs to invest in programs and services to prevent type 2 diabetes, but also to help Ontarians manage their diabetes effectively at home," said Philp. "The research clearly shows that $1 invested in helping Ontarians with diabetes and their doctors manage this disease according to evidence based clinical recommendations, government could save up to $4 across the healthcare system that can be reallocated in the public healthcare system. This is a significant saving for all Ontarians."

Diabetes represents about 10 per cent of the annual direct costs of healthcare in Ontario-more than $2 billion annually. Additionally, more than 99,900 hospital admissions in 2005 were to treat Ontarians with diabetes for serious complications.

Tackling Diabetes in Ontario is available in pdf format.

The Canadian Diabetes Association works to prevent diabetes and improve the quality of life for those affected, through research, education, service and advocacy. With a presence in more than 150 communities, the Canadian Diabetes Association's strong network of assistance includes volunteers, employees, healthcare professionals and partners.

Canadian Diabetes Association