A false economy !

The most common cause of blindness in Australia is Macular Degeneration.   This is an age related condition and the government spends heavily on advertising urging people to have regular consultations with eye specialists to have their vision checked.   If caught in the early stages, the progress of the disease can be slowed by monthly injections of Lucrentis.

Macular Degeneration inflicts 167,000 Australians and it is estimated that a million more people over the age of fifty are showing early signs of it's approach.  It is therefore surprising to find that from the first of November new funding caps are to be implemented on the cost of treatment for this disease.

At present, the Lucrentis procedure costs patients $ 100 per month.  From November, this will increase to $ 500 each month because it will no longer be subsidised under the safety net that applies to payments beyond the normal Medicare payments schedule.   For those unable to make this payment, it seems the only option available to them is - to lose their sight !

That is clearly a false economy.  If we have a sharp increase in the number of blind people, the money saved by taking treatment out of reach will be more than measured by the added costs of caring for the blind.  Nursing home beds are already in short supply.  People with limited sight still caring for themselves in their own homes will obviously require the transition to care and even those still cared for by relatives will be eligible for the blind pension.

Surely, going blind must be the greatest disability that most people can imagine.  Age related diseases are increasing along with the longevity which good food and advanced medical attention have bestowed.  It seems a giant step backward to put treatment for blindness out of reach and at the same time create a very expensive need for the care that this same treatment will postpone.

Perhaps the Mandarins of the health department could use a lesson on comparative economics !