The Council of Australian Governments agrees AU$200 million to fight type 2 diabetes

At the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting on April 13, 2007, Prime Minister John Howard and state premiers have agreed to dedicate AU$200 to fight the type 2 diabetes "time bomb".

As part of the National Reform Agenda, designed to raise Australian productivity and prosperity, COAG has decided a new cost-shared package (using AU$100 million in Commonwealth money) to address significant growth in type 2 diabetes. According to South Australia's Premier Mike Rann, one million Australians suffer from type 2 diabetes, with 100,000 diagnoses a year and 3.3 million people expected to be afflicted by 2027.

Details of the package drawing will be developed as soon as possible. COAG has also agreed to develop by mid-2008 a national risk assessment tool, programme standards and accreditation arrangements to reduce the risk of developing the disease and for people newly diagnosed with it.

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