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in the news call for national low vision program
The Macular Disease Foundation of Australia is calling for the establishment of a nationally funded low vision aids and equipment program to replace current state / territory government schemes .
The call is one of three main recommendations put forward in the Foundation ’ s recent report - ‘ Low Vision , quality of life and independence : A review of the evidence on aids and technologies ’ - developed in collaboration with The George Institute for Global Health .
The report highlights the benefits of aids and technologies for those with vision loss and blindness in connecting and engaging with the world , maintaining independence and enhancing quality of life .
The report argues that cost is a major barrier to accessing low vision aids in Australia , and that , for over a decade , responsibility for a funded equipment program has been shuffled between state and federal governments and portfolios , finally falling between the gaps of aged care and disability reforms .
The chief executive officer of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia , Julie Heraghty , said low vision aids , ranging from a simple magnifier through to adaptive technology , can transform the lives of people with sight loss .
“ Currently , the vast majority of people in Australia with sight loss have great difficulty affording or accessing these aids . This needs to change ,” Ms Heraghty said .
“ While successive governments are to be commended for subsidising registered sight-saving drugs to avoid vision loss , unfortunately many Australians who are vision impaired or blind , are repeatedly missing out on the support they most need – low vision aids and technologies .
“ This new , Australian-first report documents the value and effectiveness of low vision aids and technologies , the barriers to access , and the reasons why this issue must be placed on the government agenda .”
Other barriers identified in the report include highly fragmented
services , inadequate referral pathways and co-management plans between eye care practitioners and low vision services , along with poor consumer information and knowledge regarding services .
Initial cost estimates of a federally funded program , presented by Macular Disease Foundation Australia , suggest a cost of $ 30 million per year with a suggested annual allowance of between $ 667 and $ 2,400 per person per annum , depending on vision assessment .
The report also recommends increased investment in research to quantify the impact that low vision aids , technologies and services can have on quality of life and independence , and that financial support for aids that improve quality of life is established in private health insurance policies .
06 news linkonline . com . au