NDIA Accountability Project

Difficulty accessing medication due to PBS decisions

Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Saturday, 22 December 2012 1:37:12 PM

Please consider this email a formal submission by me to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012.

The current disability system has many problems that need to be addressed.

Cannot access necessary medicine on PBS as a computer made a decision on my illness !! Not a Pharmacist, not a Psychiatrist not even a GP …. A computer unreal and where do I find $380 a month to stay awake on my pension ? So thanks to this defective system I am in and out of sleep month in month out relying on overseas medication it’s an absolute nightmare and still costs me $200 a month when I can put that money together that is. Pretty disturbing

The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:

  • Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
  • More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
  • Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Therapy and allied health services,
  • Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
  • Employment support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

My health problem is ruining my life, however, I can still manage to function on the poverty line … I cannot imagine what profoundly disabled people go through to survive in this society when most healthcare employees you talk to are mostly concerned with paperwork, rules and regulations, computer results, statistics and keeping their jobs.

As to mental health, sleep disorders ? Can’t wait for the day I can talk to a Specialist who does not look at me as if I am a three headed alien because they haven’t got the faintest idea about what I am going through every day and more importantly couldn’t care less, so it goes in the too hard basket where I have been spending the past 7 years, that’s why I support NDIS in the name of those who cannot fend for themselves. God Bless NDIS

Véronique Ménand

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Ms Veronique MENAND