Perth, Feb 18, 2008 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In an Australian first, people with diabetes will soon have free access to retractable syringes supplied through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
ASX listed company, Safety Medical Products Limited (ASX: SFP)(SafetyMed), announced today it had been granted approval by the Federal Department of Health to supply the first ever Australian made retractable syringes to the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
Today's announcement will also provide a launch pad for its product to be introduced in other markets including the wider health sector and programs that provide clean needles to intravenous drug users.
SafetyMed Managing Director, John Riemelmoser, said today's announcement would mean people with diabetes will be able to more safely dispose of needles.
"The SecureTouch(tm) Retractable Syringe technology will provide peace of mind to people with diabetes, particularly around the home or if they don't have immediate access to a sharps disposal container," Mr Riemelmoser said.
"We know that people with diabetes who use syringes are very diligent about the correct disposal of sharps. However, there are times when this can be difficult, and so the retractable syringe provides an added safety element.
"Retractable syringes also provide added safety and security for people in the waste management and recycling industries who area faced with the threat of needle stick injury from incorrectly discarded syringes on a daily basis.
"In addition to supplying the NDSS, we will be embarking on an education campaign to highlight the benefits and correct use of the retractable syringes."
The SecureTouch(tm) Retractable Syringe will be first safety device ever listed on the NDSS and will be available free to people with diabetes who are registered with the scheme. There were 844,062 people registered on the NDSS as at June 2007.
Approximately 12 million free syringes were distributed through the NDSS in the 12 months to June 2007.
SafetyMed is also the only Australian company approved to supply sharps to the scheme. Mr Riemelmoser said today's announcement was possible because SafetyMed had been able to deliver on its promise of extremely low production costs for its SecureTouch(tm) Retractable Syringes to a point where they were cost competitive with other non-retractable syringes on the market.
BACKGROUND
The NDSS is an initiative of the Australian Government administered by Diabetes Australia Limited since 1987.
In October 2006 Diabetes Australia in partnership with the Australian Government announced record funding of $750 million for the NDSS to take it through to June 2011.
With support from State and Territory Governments the supply of needles and syringes are free to people with diabetes who are registered on the NDSS.
Diabetes is Australia's fastest-growing chronic disease with approximately 275 adults in Australia developing the disease daily. This represents 8 adults in every 1,000 or more than 100,000 annually.
Contact
John Riemelmoser
TEL: +61-418-844-812
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