Australians living with, or are at risk of macular disease, will soon benefit from $3 million funding by the Australian government.
Announcing the package, Australia's health ministry said it included:
- $1.5 million over four years to increase awareness of the risk factors of macular disease, of which $1 million will go directly to the Macular Disease Foundation Australia
- $1.5 million to deliver awareness and education on the management of macular degeneration to health professionals, through appropriate organisations.
The move follows the 2018 National Strategic Action Plan for Macular Disease commissioned by the government and led by the Macular Disease Foundation Australia. It highlighted the need to focus on the prevention, early detection and treatment of macular disease, support for patients and improved data collection and research into the disease.
The package is in addition to existing measures for treatment and management of macular degeneration: several medications (including ranibizumab, aflibercept and verteporfin) are subsidised in Australia under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and specific services in relation to the treatment of macular disease are available through the Medical Benefits Schedule.
