IDDT Australia - Personal Importation

OBTAINING NATURAL INSULIN TYPES IN AUSTRALIA

Insulin types available

Porcine insulin, although needed by some diabetics, is no longer available in Australia as a registered drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It was withdrawn by manufacturers some 16 years ago. As from March 2007 it is stocked by Aspen Pharmacare in Australia in both vials, and is available under the Special Access Scheme without the need to import. This alleviates some of the freight charges and ensures it will get to you unspoiled, as it is quickly delivered to your doctor in a cooled package!
Letter from Jenny Hirst at IDDT International on the re-introduction of porcine insulin into Australia after an absence of 16 years!

Bovine insulin is still available in the same way as other medicines, as an approved product on the Pharmaceuticaol Benefits Scheme. The manufacturer is CP Pharmaceuticals in the UK and it is marketed through Aspen Pharmacare in Australia. Your doctor can write a prescription and you can obtain it from any Australian pharmacy. It may not be stocked, but may be obtained promptly from their suppliers!

Synthetic 'Human' insulin and Synthetic Analogues are supplied in Australia, usually as first line treatment as in many other countries, but a significant number of people are not suited to these synthetic insulins and therefore need either natural bovine or porcine insulin to control their diabetes and remain healthy with a good quality life.

Obtaining porcine Hypurin insulin directly from Aspen Pharmacare in Australia. This link provides you with the price, procedure and all the documentation you need in a PDF file to obtain your insulin via the Special Access Scheme (SAS) in just a few days.

If you obtain your porcine Hypurin insulin in 3 ml injection pen cartridges, you will find that the recommended Owen Mumford Autopen is now available in Australia.
These pens are available in either 1 step graduations from 1 to 16 units or 2 step graduations from 2 to 32 units.
Replacement needles are available from the National Diabetic Supplies Scheme (NDSS).

B-D MicroFine + Pen Needle 29G (12.7mm) are free to registered diabetics.

The Owen Mumford Autopen is available in Australia from Point of Care Diagnostics based in Artarmon (Freecall: 1800 640 075). Trent Ellison of that company advised that the cost of the pen is around $55.00. Needles to fit the pen are available fee of charge from the NDSS.

NOTE: The Owen Mumford Autopen 24 is a totally different pen and is unsuitable for use with Hypurin insulin cartridges! It is intended for use with Lantus insulin only!

LOCAL LINKS

Introduction to IDDT-Australia
IDDT Australia - Agenda
IDDT Australia News - 7 July 2009 Insulin Analogues and Cancer (more investigation needed)
THE GM INJECTION - Special report from Jo-Ann Goodwin (UK Daily Mail August 2002)
IDDT Australia - Australian Government Indifference!
Availability of animal insulins
Obtaining Natural insulins in Australia THIS PAGE
Options if your diabetes is unstable on synthetic insulin and you live in Australia
Press cuttings & extracts from The Diabetes Australia magazine CONQUEST
Event Reports (dangers highlighted)
Patient experiences
Action Corner
Putting the situation into perspective
Introducing IDDT - PDF file
Diabetes Internet Resources