Cutting insulin pump budget not a 'wise idea'

Health PEI is taking the wrong approach with its decision to cut its insulin pump budget in half, says the Canadian Diabetes Association.

• P.E.I.'s lack of funding for insulin pumps 'disgraceful'

Health PEI has spent only about 10 per cent of the money budgeted for the insulin pump program since it launched in 2014, and now the agency has cut the funding available to that program from $400,000 to $200,000 a year.

Keep them away from those sort of complications that are very costly.- Jake Reid

Jake Reid, government relations director for Atlantic Canada at the Canadian Diabetes Association, said rather than cut Health PEI should open up its program so more people qualify.

"I don't think that cutting the budget is necessarily a wise idea. We would request enhancing the program, limiting the criteria and expanding it to include more ages," said Reid.

"[That] would be a better idea. To keep them out of hospital, to keep them away from those sort of complications that are very costly down the road."

Co-pay could be beyond some households

P.E.I.'s insulin pump program only covers Islanders 18 and under.

The Diabetes Association it is worried the requirement for co-payments might be keeping some low-income households from taking part.

Reid said that even in the lowest income bracket in P.E.I.'s program, those with a household income of $20,000 or less), there's still a 10 per cent co-pay. With the cost of the pump, about $7,000, and supplies in the range of $300 a month, that could be $1,000 or more per year.

Reid said that's probably too much for those low-income households.

Program under review

In a statement sent to CBC News, Health PEI said changes to the program are possible.

"In light of the lower than anticipated uptake, [Health PEI] is reviewing the provincial insulin pump program, including the criteria and what more can be done to support low-income Islanders and improve uptake in the program," the statement says.

The budget is being adjusted this year, Health PEI says, in order to reflect a more realistic estimate of uptake on the program.

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