In an atttempt to get the Australian Federal Government to understand the plight of some insulin dependent diabetics who cannot survive on "human" insulin, I contacted the then Tasmanian Shadow Minister for Health, Dr Frank Madill, who wrote a letter to the then Federal Minister For Health, Dr Michael Wooldridge on the matter.
A reply was received by Dr Madill; not from Dr Michael Wooldridge, but from Senator Grant Tambling, his parliamentary secretary.  It offered absolutely no solution to the problem!!!
It is obvious that that government had no concern for those diabetics who cannot survive on Synthetic human insulin, unless they are able to manage on bovine insulin.
Those who must use porcine insulin have to import it at great expense.   One man who is a pensioner has to pay $400 (a lot for a pensioner) four times a year for 3 months supply!
Surely this is unreasonable and merits some government action and not their patronising indifference!

It was the Federal Government who got us into this mess by selling the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories; thus putting animal insulin supply into the hands of business, whose only concern is profit margins and not the well being of a minor section of the community.

If it is not profitable for business to register the rest of the Wockhardt range of natural insulins and market them in Australia. It should be up to the Australian Government to make ammends and itself make arrangements to cater for the needs of Australian diabetic people.   The cost of aiding registration would be very small!  Government initially allowed these essential medications to be deregistered without proof that the replacement insulins would suit everyone!
Don't they care that people who cannot afford the required animal insulin may lose their life; if not the quality of life?

It is only those trying to live on unsuitable medication who understand the trauma!
 

Ian Kershaw

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LOCAL LINKS

1. Introduction to IDDT-Australia
2. IDDT Australia - Agenda
3. IDDT Australia - Latest News 14 March 2007
4. THE GM INJECTION - Special report from Jo-Ann Goodwin (UK Daily Mail August 2002)
5. Australian Government Indifference! THIS PAGE
6. Availability of animal insulins
7. Obtaining natural insulins in Australia - updated 14 March 2007
8. Press cuttings & extracts from The Diabetes Australia magazine CONQUEST
9. Event Reports (dangers highlighted)
10. Patient experiences
11. Action Corner
12. Putting the situation into perspective
13. Introducing IDDT - PDF file
14. Diabetes Internet Resources