Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will ask about FreeStyle Libre. There are 20,000 people in Ireland living with type 1 diabetes. They have been calling on the Department of Health and HSE for years now to reimburse people who wish to use a FreeStyle Libre device to best manage their condition. The device consists of small, round sensor that is worn on the back of the upper arm. A handheld reader or application on a smart phone can be used to scan the small sensor. This will provide the individual with an immediate reading of their glucose levels. It takes less than one second to do and there is no need to draw blood. It is faster and far more practical. This device has been described as a life-changer by those who use it. The starter kits cost €170 and the sensor costs €120 per month. It does not cost any more than the finger-prick kits that the HSE already covers. At the moment, only people under 21 with type 1 diabetes can get these costs covered by the HSE.

Ireland is the only country in the world that limits those who can access this life-changing device based on age. I ask the Government and HSE to review that.

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