The Federal Labor Government has provided only a bandaid solution to the removal of fast acting insulin Fiasp from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Anne Webster says.

Novo Nordisk will remove Fiasp, an innovative mealtime insulin that improves blood sugar control in diabetes patients at a faster rate than other diabetes medications, from the PBS on April 1.

The company has stated a significant reduction applied by the Government made it commercially unviable to remain on the scheme.

This will drive up the cost to patients who will be forced to access Fiasp through private prescription.

In response, rather than addressing the pricing which caused the situation, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has offered a six month Supply Order on the insulin.

Under the Order, patients who already have a prescription will be able to refill their current scripts and repeat scripts at a pharmacy over the next six months as long as they go to through their doctor before April 1.

“Minister Butler has absolved his responsibility, claiming he cannot intervene, while blaming the company for their commercial decisions in the wake of his Government’s price cuts,” Dr Webster said.

“I’ve been inundated with calls from Mallee diabetics, who are among the more than 15,000 Australians who will be left in the lurch by the removal of Fiasp, about this distressing turn of events.

“Some of these people say Fiasp has helped them feel ‘normal’ and now because of this Government devaluing their experiences they will be rushing to get a doctor’s appointment – which they might not be able to get.

“And all this is for a mere six month reprieve before these people are forced to either pay more for Fiasp or change to an older insulin.”