Glucose Test Strips Market 2011-2015 report

Cowboyjim said:

does not in this PR mention negative factors like cutting back on prescriptions as in the UK

Click to expand...

Maybe it's because this fact is not affecting sales as much as it otherwise might. What does not get prescribed for me I go out and buy privately. Unjust perhaps but the sales figures stay high.

I think that test strips are an issue in the U.S. too Jim if these articles are anything to go by.

Going Undercover to Investigate Selling Test Strips for Cash.

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2012/08/goi ... -cash.html

This one explains how people on oral meds are allowed one test strip per day and those on insulin can expect three per day.

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2012/08/thr ... trips.html

Here we have medics putting forward the same argument as some do here that Type2's do not need meters on a regular basis because they cannot change the numbers immediately and their HBA1c results are enough. Insurance Companies are happy to accept this view as they do not want to cover the cost.

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2012/09/cal ... pe-2s.html

Would be interesting to know how many countries are restricting test strips.

Would be interesting to know how many countries are restricting test strips.

Click to expand...

In 2007 out of these countries : Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Tanzania, the U.K, and the U.S. only Norway and the UK were providing free strips for those on oral medications.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/conten ... /e105.full
Australia is currently reviewing provision for T2
http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/reviews/diabetes
Sweden, Germany, and Canada have all reviewed and have introduced or are introducing restrictions or stopped providing completely for people not on insulin.
http://www.ti.ubc.ca/letter81
Similarly in 2011 the French introduced strict quotas on strips for people not on insulin.


Here is the position according to this 2011 doc. I've highlighted those that seem to offer some provisions and updated the countries that have changed policy since the survey. In lots of the poorer countries strips are also limited or not reimbursed for people on insulin and some are very unclear as to what they provide to T2s not on insulin .
http://ec.europa.eu/health/major_chroni ... e_2011.pdf

Albania: not reimbursed
Armenia : only children
Azerbarjan : low provision
Austria: reimbursed
Belarus : 1 free strip a day T1 under 18, too expensive for most others
Belgium: reimbursed for those on 2 injections + a day and on max dose of orals
(meters not reimbursed)
Croatia : strips reimbursed if on 2 +injections a day, meters partially reimbursed
Cyprus: no reimbursement for meters or strips
Czech republic: On insulin 1000 free strips per year; oral med 100 free per year; diet only 50 free per year
Denmark: Reimbursed if on insulin : 50% of meter cost reimbursed. 50 strips reimbursed if on oral meds
Estonia : 90% reimbursed- if T1 adult (600 strips per year),T2 on insulin(300 strips) T2 oral (100 strips) child or pregnant (1200 strips) Monitors not reimbursed
Faroe Isl: (Denmark) : annual payment of € 215 for D care; includes max 4 strips per day.
France :at time of study fully reimbursed. Now reimbursed for people on insulin. Limited reimbursement for people on oral medication(max 200 per year in context of education) Meters reimbursed 1 every 4 years.
Georgia : Meters and strips reimbursed for children; No reimbursement for adults
Germany: at time of study limited reimbursement for strips and meters. Since 2011 not reimbursed for people on oral medication/diet
Greece: unclear
Hungary : Children 100% reimbursed Adults 50%
Iceland: Partial reimbursment
Ireland: Free/partial reimbursement
Israel unclear/ partial?
Italy: unclear , only partial reimburement
Kazakhstan : 300 strips free per year for insulin dependent.
Kyrgyzstan : no reimbursement
Lativia : on insulin 120 strips per month (75% reimbursed); if pregnant 150 strips a month (100% reimbursed), Oral medication, 30 strips a month (50% reimbursed)
Lithuania : Partial reimbursement ; Children, 1800 strips a year; T1 adults, 900 strips a year, T2 on insulin,300 strips a year, T2 on oral medication, 150 strips per year
Luxembourg : 1 meter every 5 years, strips reimbursed
Macedonia: not reimbursed
Netherlands: if on insulin reimbursed.
Norway : reimbursed
Poland: partial reimbursement
Portugal: uncllear if for T2 limited reimbursement
Romania : if on insulin reimbursed
Russian Federation: strips free/reimbursed (but not clear to what types)
Serbia :reimbursed (again not clear how universal)
Slovakia : restricted reimbursement , 50-100 strips a month for those on insuln
Slovenia : free but very limited
Spain: strips available , 60-90% reimbursement
Sweden: At time of survey fully reimbursed. Now I believe they are limited for those not on insulin.
Switzerland: reimbursed
Turkey: unclear
Ukraine: Free for children/pregnant women; unclear if available for others (there are supply problems with medications so suspect not)
UK: Free but only available if deemed by a healthcare professional to be needed
Uzbekistan: unclear (medications + insulin only partially reimbursed so doubt there is much provision)