Pressure building over continuous glucose monitors

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The pressure is building on health minister Greg Hunt to make continuous glucose monitors available to people living with diabetes.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has called for action following a similar call from shadow health minister Chris Bowen.

Mr Hunt announced expanded access to continuous glucose monitoring devices in November last year.

At the time, he said $100 million in funding would expand access to over 37,000 eligible people from March this year under the National Diabetes Services Scheme.

However, the commitment is yet to be implemented, with Department of Health officials telling Senate Estimates in April they were yet to finalise a "cost-effective" price with the relevant manufacturer.

Mr Wilkie told parliament the monitors should be made even more widely available - to the 1.2 million people living with diabetes in Australia.

Mr Bowen recently accused Mr Hunt of breaking a promise to diabetics and now "pretending he never made it".

"Australia’s diabetics deserve better," said Mr Bowen. "Minister Hunt needs to stop lying, stop delaying, and list Flash glucose monitoring on the National Diabetes Services Scheme as a matter of critical importance."