It is not good enough that Dunedin will not host a consultation meeting on "absolutely huge" proposed changes to diabetes management tools, Diabetes Otago office manager Noeline Wedlock says.
Pharmac's proposal to limit diabetics to one type of blood glucose-testing kit was "incredibly short-sighted", she said.
Diabetics were used to choice, and had often used the same brand for years.
It would be especially difficult for the many elderly type-2 diabetics.
Pharmac wants to solely fund Korean-made CareSens glucose test strips and meters supplied by Pharmaco NZ, saving about $10 million a year.
Mrs Wedlock is encouraging Otago diabetics to provide feedback on the proposal, but said it would help if Dunedin was included on the schedule of meetings.
Many people did not know what was happening, she said.
"It's always so typical, isn't it?
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and nothing, nothing in Dunedin at all."
She feared the switch-over would mean more pressure on regional support offices, as many people would need help with the change.
The proposals had wider implications because of the way different pieces of equipment worked together.
Some diabetics had paid thousands of dollars for insulin pumps, but they might not be compatible with the new equipment.
A "monopoly" provider would not be good, she added.
The reason there was high quality in the existing service was because of "healthy competition".
Pharmac has requested feedback by March 14, which was too short for a consultation period, Mrs Wedlock said.
Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie said it would be "very difficult" for Pharmac to include Dunedin on the meeting schedule, pointing out there were plenty of other centres also not included.
However, he did not rule out a change of heart on a Dunedin meeting.
"The door is not completely shut."
Dr Moodie said if the new system was approved, diabetics would be helped to switch to the new glucose management tools between June and September.
Pharmac had plenty of experience with single providers, and it did not mean lower quality.
The $10 million saving would allow more spending on another healthcare needs, he said.
Pharmac was also consulting on a proposal to fund insulin pumps, which were at present a "post-code lottery" governed by DHBs.
Dunedin-based Pharmac chairman Stuart McLauchlan declined to comment, saying it was a matter for staff.
