Local residents with diabetes will pay a lot less for their diabetes products, with the Burnt Pine Pharmacy now registered as a National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) Access Point on Norfolk Island.
The NDSS is an Australian Government initiative, administered with the assistance of Diabetes Australia, to enhance the capacity of people with diabetes to understand and self manage their life with diabetes, and help them have access to services, support and subsidised diabetes products.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has been working with Diabetes Australia to establish the registered NDSS Access Point on Norfolk Island and enable the Burnt Pine Pharmacy to supply products at the set national prices subsidised by the NDSS.
The NDSS is absorbing the freight costs of delivering diabetes products to the Island, ensuring costs to people with diabetes will be low.
Diabetes Australia health professionals have now provided NDSS training and education to pharmacy and NIHRACS staff.
The Diabetes Clinic at Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIRHACS) will continue to provide diabetes support to the Norfolk Island community. There will also be opportunities for diabetes patients to learn more about the NDSS by attending a clinic session.
More information is available through the pharmacy, NIHRACS, or on the NDSS website at www.ndss.com.au.
Registration with the NDSS is free and open to all Australians with diabetes who have a current Medicare card, Department of Veterans" Affairs (DVA) Gold or White Card. Detailed information on how to register can be found on the NDSS website at www.ndss.com.au/registration
Eric Hutchinson
Administrator of Norfolk Island
28 May 2020