Health Budget 2007-2008

COAG – reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes

To address growth in type 2 diabetes, the Government is funding a new program to identify people at risk – focusing on people aged 40-49 - and help them to modify risky behaviours.

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Why is this important?

• Many Australians, particularly those over 40, are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle factors relating to nutrition and physical activity. Without effective interventions, by 2030 around 3.3 million Australians are likely to have type 2 diabetes.

• Under this measure a new tool will be developed to identify people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

• A new Medicare item will be introduced for GPs to develop a “Diabetes Risk Plan” for those aged 40 to 49 years who are found to be at high risk.

• This group may be referred by their GP to a subsidised lifestyle modification program.

• Divisions of General Practice will be funded to help purchase, or, in certain circumstances, provide the lifestyle modification programs.

• As with other programs run through Divisions, in-house provision may be the only viable option in some regional and remote communities.

Who will benefit?

• It is estimated that 136,000 Australians aged 40 to 49 will participate in the program over the four years.

• National standards and accreditation of lifestyle modification programs will ensure programs offered to the public are safe and effective.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

• The Commonwealth Government will provide $103.4 million over four years towards a national package to prevent type 2 diabetes. States and territories will provide a further $101 million for other activities to address type 2 diabetes.

What have we done in the past?

• The Commonwealth Government established diabetes as a National Health Priority in 1996. Since then the Government:

• has committed $2.1 million per annum (indexed annually) since 1999 to the National Diabetes Strategy (2000-04);
• has committed $43.4 million over four years in the 2001-02 Budget for the National Integrated Diabetes Program (NIDP), with a further $44.2 million committed over four years in 2005-06 to improve the care of people with diabetes through general practice;
• will provide approximately $670 million over five years from 2006-07 for Diabetes Australia to continue the National Diabetes Services Scheme (an increase from the $442 million provided over the previous five years) so people with diabetes can access essential products such as syringes, insulin infusion pump consumables and diagnostic products at subsidised rates.

When will the initiative conclude?

• The initiative will conclude in June 2011.