Amy,
My family and I have just recieved our pr visas on 27.11.03.My wife is a
nurse so they have been fast tracked as we only sent them in August this
year and we had to have our medicals done in October.I am type one
diabetic age 37 had condition since 19.The medical was straight forward
and I took a letter from my diabetic clinic showing my standard of
care,eyesight and kidney function all good.The doc who did medical took
my blood pressure checked my weight and looked at the letter and
enclosed it with medical results with the comments "you will be okay".He
did nothing extra to me when I compared medical tests with my
wife.Unless you are badly controlled and have other problems caused by
diabetes it was easy.We have just comeback from month visit to Australia
and I found out loads while there as friends in Sydney work in the
medical field.
The insulin I am on is available but is under a different name as
manufacturers change names for countrys.
All my blood test equipment is available.
They have diabetic clinics like uk so u are checked 6monthly and
12(bloods,eyes,kidneys and weight)Diabetes is a major problem in
Australia due to life style and the medical journals predict that 25% of
population will have it in less that 10 years so the Australians are
investing cash in this health field.
Your prescriptions are not free as per uk.They range from $4 if not
working to $34 when in work per script.But once you have reached a
total spend of $400 on scripts they become free so most diabetics by
may are on free scripts.I paid to see doctor had to pay as I was
visitor and she explained all that was available and checked my
medication against what is available in Australia.Once in Australia
with your visas you apply for medicare card and this allows you
tretment on the Australian Health Service just like the uk.Doctors
visits are free when you have pr visa its just the scripts you pay
for.The doctor I saw said great things about diabetic care offered in
Australia and put my mind at rest.If you partner is well controlled and
can obtain letter from his diabetic clinic he will be okay.Once in
Australia I was told to join diabetic Australia and this would allow me
money off my scripts and some other bits free(not sure what)Also poped
into pharmacy and asked questions and they said much the same as above
and that they can offer some medications free to diabetics when you
hand in your scripts.Not sure of any organisation that may help but if
you could get in touch with Australian doctor they could put mind at
rest.Maybe a doctor on this site?
I found it no different to the UK same health care and private if u want
it and same pressures as NHS in uk.Supprised you have not been able to
get help from Diabetes Australia so why dont you contact Diabetes uk as
I believe they offer advice on this type of question.Also it will cost
him less to be a diabetic in Australia than it does to be a diabetic in
the USA this i found out from a post on this site a year ago.
If i can help further just ask.
Good luck and just chill when you go for medicals as u do not
want BP up.
Tony
As stated in an earlier post I made, my fiance has had diabetes since
the age of 4 (he's now 21). We're looking into him coming to Australia
to be with me but the health requirements don't sound encouraging with
all the restrictions. If *anyone* has had to go through Australian
immigration with diabetes or even another health condition and has
contacts they have used for help and advice, could you please let us
know if possible? We have contacted a couple of senators and local
politicians, Diabetes Australia won't even help. So if anyone knows of
people/organisations that would give us advice or help, we would
*really* appreciate hearing from you. Thank you in advanced.
Regards,
Amy