Diabetic retinopathy treatment: Access and cost for First Nations patients

A new Information Sheet, Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment and Cost in Private Practice, developed by the Indigenous Eye Health Unit at The University of Melbourne, was recently launched at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference 2023.

A new Information Sheet, Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment and Cost in Private Practice, developed by the Indigenous Eye Health Unit at The University of Melbourne, was recently launched at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference 2023.

The Information Sheet aims to support a better understanding of the common course of treatment, and highlight the potential out-of-pocket costs experienced by patients when accessing treatment in private practice. The new resource compares the costs of treatment including laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injections, the most common treatment modality for diabetic retinopathy.

The resource is of relevance to Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners, Integrated Team Care coordinators, policymakers, and others who work to establish and sustain pathways for Diabetic Retinopathy treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. The resource may also be of interest to patients and their carers, who may also need to negotiate access to this sight-saving Diabetic Retinopathy treatment with private providers.

The Indigenous Eye Health Unit (IEHU) acknowledges contributions to the development of the Information Sheet, including information and advice received from clinicians and stakeholders across Australia, including Dr Ben Clarke who also provided input to the Information Sheet wording. The initial cost models for out-of-pocket elements were developed by IEHU staff Rosamond Gilden, Nick Schubert, Guy Gillor and Mitchell Anjou.

A news article on Croakey Health Media, written by IEHU staff Guy Gillor, Lose (Rose) Fonua and Mitchell Anjou, further expands and contextualises the issue of the high cost intravitreal injections for diabetic retinopathy treatment through private providers. This is in the wider context of a shift of preferred treatment modality away from public funded services as well as the focus of past interventions on screening rather than treatment pathways.

The article emphasises the urgency of ensuring no-cost-access models are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a necessary step towards Australia’s goal of ending avoidable vision loss and blindness for First Nations Australians.

To read the Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment and Cost in Private Practice: Please click here

To read the Croakey Health Media article Financial barriers to sight-saving treatment are leading to avoidable blindness: Please click here