A MASSIVE increase in the cost of diabetic test strips will place unbearable financial burdens on seniors with Type 2 diabetes, a seniors lobby group said.
Seniors United Australia spokesperson Chris Osborne said many people acquired Type2 diabetes as they became older and, in order to stay healthy and active, regular testing was required.
“To increase a box of 100 test strips from $1.60 to $60 will create enormous financial burdens on those seniors with fixed and low incomes,” Mr Osborne said.
He criticised the federal government, particularly the newly re-elected Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“We heard from the Prime Minister during the last days of the recent election campaign that nothing would change with Medicare and here is his first test and he has failed,” he said.
Mr Osborne said the increase would mean that many seniors would forego regular testing due to the cost which would limit their ability to monitor their condition properly.
“We are going to see...large numbers of seniors end up in hospital.”
