PROVINCE TO FUND INSULIN PUMPS FOR CHILDREN

VANCOUVER – Government will fund insulin pumps for eligible children with type 1 diabetes, announced Premier Gordon Campbell and Health Services Minister George Abbott today. “Coping with type 1 diabetes can be stressful for young children and their families. Providing insulin pumps can help alleviate that stress for B.C. kids and ensure they grow up to be healthy adults,” said Premier Campbell, who attended an event at Bayview Elementary in Vancouver as part of an awareness raising campaign to mark World Diabetes Day. “Providing insulin pumps is another tool for parents and physicians to manage the disease, so that our children can live happy, healthy and productive lives.” There are approximately 2,200 children with type 1 diabetes in British Columbia, and the Ministry of Health Services estimates that about 600 children use insulin pumps. Insulin pumps cost approximately $6,500 each. The expanded coverage will provide new pumps for approximately 200 patients each year at a cost of about $1.5 million annually. Insulin pumps can help patients who have particularly serious diabetes, and who are not able to effectively control their condition through the use of oral diabetes medications or daily injections.

As of Nov. 17, 2008, endocrinologists and pediatricians can apply for insulin pump coverage for their patients, aged 18 and under, through the Province’s special authority process. An insulin pump can benefit young patients who have difficulty managing their disease via other methods. Use of the pump removes the need for the current process of multiple daily injections. It allows for more accurate delivery of insulin throughout the day and night, and can help to reduce the chances of long-term complications from the disease.In addition, the Province will now cover the cost of insulin pump reservoirs for patients of all ages who use insulin pumps to manage their diabetes. Reservoirs are disposable, and on average, must be changed every three days. Expanding their coverage to include reservoirs will save patients with type 1 diabetes up to $700 annually.