Diabetes Canada is pleased with the Manitoba government announcement by Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon yesterday about the addition of CGM and Flash devices to Manitoba PharmaCare for eligible Manitobans age 25 years and younger, as well as the expansion of age eligibility for an insulin pump through the provincial pump program.
“This is a welcomed announcement in recognizing the many challenges young Manitobans living with diabetes face,” says Joan King, Director of Provincial Government Relations, West for Diabetes Canada. “However, we urge the government to take rapid action in the short-term and expand access to Manitobans with diabetes who would benefit from these devices, regardless of age."
In Manitoba, there are more than 400,000 people living with diabetes or prediabetes and prevalence is predicted to increase to 488,000 in just 10 years. Diabetes also costs the health-care system $147 million, rising to $194 million by 2031. Eighty per cent of the costs of diabetes are related to caring for its complications, including kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, blindness and limb amputation.
These new diabetes supports for advanced glucose monitors will come into effect on Sept. 28 and in November 2021 for insulin pumps.
“At such a pivotal time in diabetes history with 2021 being the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, and more people living with diabetes than ever before, we hope the government will recognize the urgency and take swift action and to further support all people living with diabetes in the province,” adds King. “We continue to hope the Manitoba government will follow in the footsteps of neighbouring provinces (Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario), and remove age discrimination from their pump program, increasing the age eligibility is a step in the right direction.”
We look forward to the opportunity to work alongside the government to help implement plans and ensure timely access for those who are eligible and would benefit from the expansion of the pump program and Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology.