by Michael Woodhead  

The government’s $5.5 million subsidy scheme for insulin pumps for children has been branded a flop, with only three pumps funded so far.  

Speaking to the Mercury today, Tasmanian senator Guy Barnett said the scheme announced by Federal health minister Nicola Roxon in November had failed to meet its target of providing insulin pumps to up to 700 children with type 1 diabetes.  

He said there were few takers for the $2500 subsidy because it went only a short way to meeting the cost of a $7000 pump.  

However, a spokesperson for the minister told the paper that there were actually seven successful applicants for a subsidy, which were awaiting co-payment from the patients.  

To qualify for the pump subsidy, families of children with diabetes have to apply online at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation website (https://www.jdrf.org.au/pumps/ ) and supply documentation and undergo assessment by a clinical team.  

The Liberal senator, who is himself a diabetic, branded the program a failure and called for an urgent overhaul.  

"This program was designed to support young people and their families who can't afford an insulin pump, but it is flawed and the subsidy is insufficient," Senator Barnett said.  

Diabetes Australia called for the program to be revised to provide a 100 per cent subsidy for insulin pumps, or at least increase the subsidy to make the insulin pumps affordable for most families.