The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) delivers diabetes-related products at subsidised prices and provides information and support services to people with diabetes.

On behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Health, AHA was engaged to examine the appropriateness and currency of diabetes-related products on the NDSS schedule list, in terms of best practice stock management and ways to reduce wastage.  This review followed and updated AHA’s previous 2012 review of the NDSS Product Schedule.

AHA’s 2017-18 review included:

• Analysis of current product usage by NDSS registrants to identify supply volumes, trends and relationships
• Assessment of opportunities for tendering out the supply of NDSS products, including investigation of New Zealand’s experience
• Expert reference group and MESAC consultation
• Industry consultation
• Recommendations regarding:
  • Product Schedule changes
  • Future product listing and delisting processes.

AHA also provided advice to the Department about procuring NDSS products from manufacturers.

The review recommendations resulted in significant changes to the product schedule from December 2018  – details of which are at the NDSS website.