In recent weeks there has been an attempt to limit the freedom of people with diabetes in Lombardy, they speak of the possibility of cure in the most appropriate and suitable to their needs.
It all started when some of the ASL Lombardia have issued a call lasting 4 years for devices of blood glucose, blood glucose meters. The only criterion for the award winners of this competition will be the cost. That win products that simply cost less, regardless of the quality of the unit, the 'reliability of the measurement of glucose, the painfulness of the operation and ease of use. This policy will be extended to all ASL Lombardy Region through a Government Decision, and then at national level for the 500,000 people with diabetes in Lombardy and the 3 million Italians with diabetes quality of life and care will be severely compromised.
So for 4 years the provision of aids, such as blood glucose test strips and lancing, will be blocked by this notice: patients and diabetologists no longer be able to choose the equipment best or most suitable for your lifestyle, but will They are required to only one device more convenient. Not only: in fact this will block innovation and technological research in the field of better devices. It should also be noted that this decision is in stark contrast to the principles of the Manifesto of the People with Diabetes and recently signed with the law 115/87.
As the news spread, all the associations of Lombardy patients with diabetes have been mobilized in a unified manner, before a general indignation against the decision of the Lombardy Region. All this has sparked even a parliamentary question to the Minister of Health. By comparing it generated seems to have been reached a first result: the parties involved (ASL and associations) have agreed to suspend the call in and review the current criteria for allocation of such notice, including for example the quality. But there is still nothing definitive, and we await developments and to never let our guard down.
Of course, this is a great victory for the associations and the voluntary sector, to which must be complimented for this step forward in solving the problem and confirms that together we can win these battles. However, the shock remains true for this attack, the consequence of a too cold managerial public health. Maybe we should make it clear to our administrators that a purely economic assessment can have serious repercussions on daily life and on disease management: the health of people can not be questioned, life is priceless.
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