People living with type 1 diabetes rallied at the National Assembly’s steps, clamoring for the government to expand its reimbursement coverage for insulin pumps. However, their sense of hope deflated upon receiving the response from Health Minister Christian Dubé.
Hopes were pinned on Dubé demonstrating a receptiveness toward the cause, but his cryptic remarks suggested that the issue did not rank high on the government’s list of key concerns. Sophie St-Pierre, the organization’s president, noted, “We have been receiving this indifferent response for years. The time might be ripe for the authorities to consider the situation of us diabetics, who contribute readily to society.”
Vincent Marissal, Québec Solidaire’s spokesperson for health matters, stated, “Presently, acquiring an insulin pump and its additional accessories can cost between $6,000 and $10,000.” The opportunity to apply for reimbursement is only available to minors. Adults who require an insulin pump for the first time after turning 18 do not qualify for coverage under the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
Interestingly, the independent public institution, Institut national d’excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS), advocated for the extension of coverage to all adults in a 2022 report.
Marissal didn’t mince his words by classifying the current scenario as plain injustice that has been voiced for quite some time. Recalling the minister’s response, marked by promised changes in the near future, he couldn’t help harboring skepticism over the repetitive assurance.
Dubé, answering queries earlier that day, acknowledged his work on the matter yet was quick to add the fiscal implications of expanding the coverage, referring to them as excessively hefty.
Approximately 60,000 Quebec residents combat type 1 diabetes each day, depending on insulin injections or an insulin pump to manage their blood sugar levels. The insulin pump, a portable device that administers insulin intravenously, bypassing the need for a syringe, has the advantage of continuous operation, allowing for greater flexibility with meals and daily activities and helping to control diabetes better.
Dubé stressed the need to keep Quebecers’ financial capacity in mind, alongside the burgeoning healthcare expenses, which already eclipse $50 billion. His press secretary later elaborated upon the financial implication, stating that according to INESSS, complying with the diabetics’ plea would mean a fiscal burden of $328.8 million over five years for the government.
Sophie St-Pierre, however, argued, “This is a severe disease demanding rigorous management. With the technology available making it possible to do so, why should the government deny adults, who happen to be taxpayers, access to it while minors can utilize it?”
Pascal Lemieux, another spokesperson for the Association québécoise des diabétiques de type 1, reasoned that numerous provinces already champion universal access to insulin pumps. He questioned the logic behind asking patients to handle a high-risk medication like insulin on their own when existing technology could minimize the said risks.
In Lemieux’s opinion, the insulin pump represents an integral tool in regulating Type 1 diabetes, subsequently resulting in sizable potential healthcare savings by preventing complications associated with the disease.
