Australians with diabetes will now have access to the next-generation Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), ensuring they can use the latest technology to manage their diabetes.
From 1 March, 58,000 eligible Australians participating in the CGM Initiative will have the option of using the new Dexcom G6 CGM device, as the current Dexcom G5 CGM device is phased out.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said around 1.8 million people in Australia live with diabetes and more than 120,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year.
“CGM measures glucose levels to gain insight into patterns and trends—day and night.
Monitoring blood glucose levels helps prevent both short-term and long-term health complications including heart attacks and strokes, amputations, kidney failure and preventable blindness,” Minister Hunt said.
“The Morrison Government remains committed to ensuring all Australians have access to the latest health care products when and where they need them.”
Funded by the Morrison Government, CGM products are available through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) to help thousands of people manage their diabetes every day.
Thousands of Australians have successfully used the Dexcom G5 monitoring device but, due to international supply chain issues, the G5 would no longer be available in Australia.
To ensure this doesn’t impact current G5 users, the Morrison Government has been working with the product sponsor and Diabetes Australia to make sure Australians can transition to the new G6 product before the G5 supple is exhausted.
To minimise the impact of this change, the listing for the G6 has been expanded so that all people eligible to participate in the CGM Initiative can access this option.
In addition, existing G5 users—about 7,500 people—will be automatically transitioned to G6 on 1 March to avoid any delays receiving their CGM product.
All products, including the new G6, provided under the CGM initiative remain free of charge.
The Morrison Government has invested more than $300 million in the CGM Initiative over four years. In 2020-21, the NDSS delivered more than 5.9 million diabetes products worth more than $186 million and more than $709 million in medicines for diabetes were dispensed under the PBS.
Last November, the Government released the Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021–2030 to drive real improvements in the prevention, early detection, management, and care of people with diabetes.
With approximately one in 20 Australians affected by diabetes, the new strategy will bring together the latest research and evidence to ensure people living with diabetes, their family and carers have access to care, treatments and support where and when they need it.