MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has welcomed the State Government’s move to develop a business case for a lymphoedema compression garment subsidy.
Earlier this year, a three-part motion spearheaded by the independent MP calling for introduction of a subsidy scheme was supported in State Parliament.
South Australia is the only state which does not provide any financial assistance towards the cost of lymphoedema compression garments.
In a letter to Mr Bell, Health Minister Stephen Wade confirmed funding options for a scheme were being developed.
Mr Bell said a State Government subsidy would provide people diagnosed with lymphoedema with financial assistance towards the cost of their garments.
He said costs for the garments range from $200 to more than $3500 per year, with the high costs deterring patients from replacing them when necessary, potentially leading to further health complications, including skin infections and cellulitis.
“A diagnosis of lymphoedema often comes at a very difficult time for people both financially and emotionally,” he said.
“At the end of a long and torturous treatment for cancer, when someone is trying to get back on their feet, paying for these garments is just another cost they have to deal with.
“These are tightly fitting elastic garments that compress the affected area and stop the fluid from building up.
“Worn every day, the life of these garments can be around six months each, so each year the patient has to replace them.”
Lymphoedema is a swelling of a part of the body and can occur as a side effect of cancer treatment when lymph nodes have been removed or damaged.
Approximately 20pc of patients treated for breast, melanoma, gynaecological or prostate cancers will develop lymphoedema with the condition impacting on an estimated 300,000 Australians in their lifetime.
Mr Bell said a State Government-funded scheme would result in flow-on benefits to South Australia’s healthcare system.
“The impact on the Australian health system from complications arising from lymphoedema is enormous,” he said.
“It would be far more cost effective for the State Government to subsidise compression garments and ongoing therapy than having to support patients during hospital stays.
“Best practice protocols indicate early intervention and treatment of the condition in its early stages is vital to reduce the long-term physical and psychological impacts.
“Compression garments are an important part of this early treatment.”
