Diabetes

National Integrated Diabetes Program

The National Integrated Diabetes Program (NIDP) provides an integrated national approach to improve the prevention, early diagnosis and management of diabetes through general practice.

In the 2001-2002 Federal Budget, $43.4 million was provided over four years for the NIDP. In 2005, a further $44.2 million over 4 years was committed to the Program by the Australian Government.

This initiative includes the following four key components:

1. Incentives to General PracticeIn recognition of the pivotal role general practitioners play in our health system, funding has been made available for diabetes care in general practice. The Diabetes Incentive is provided through the Practice Incentives Program to improve prevention, early diagnosis and management of diabetes. The Diabetes Incentive commenced in November 2001. Further information for GPs on this program is available through the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
   
   
2. Infrastructure and support for Divisions of General PracticeThis initiative provides funding to the Divisions of General Practice to develop measures to support General Practice in:
   • establishing and maintaining diabetes registers;
   • providing best practice management; and
   • addressing the current inadequacies in access to community services and multidisciplinary care.
     
     
3. Engagement of consumersNationally consistent information, education resources and tools will be developed for people at risk of, or living with, diabetes to enable them to better manage their condition.
   
   
4. Supporting changes in the health professionThis initiative is directed at diabetes services or organisations that wish to review processes which would result in major changes to their current systems and provide rapid and improved health outcomes for their clients with diabetes. This program is expected to provide the following outcomes:
   • increase in the identification of people with diabetes;
   • earlier identification of people with diabetes;
   • increase in the proportion of people with diabetes receiving optimal diabetes care;
   • decrease in hospitalisation rates for diabetes-related complications;
   • increase in consumer access to diabetes services and information about best practice; and
   • sustainable improvements in the management and treatment for people with diabetes.