Dear Editor,

Pensioners do get lots of benefits from the NIS, for example, medication assistance to buy spectacles, dentures etc. Those who are getting medication for diabetics do have to check their blood sugar using a blood glucose monitoring system, either they go to a drug store that tests your blood sugar or they buy a system and do their own testing which is more convenient.

NIS should assist those who have their own system by supplying the strips every six months to those pensioners. These strips to be used on the system are very expensive. I bought a box which is a six months supply for 7,295 dollars. NIS should really help those pensioners by supplying them with strips or even more supply the monitoring system so that NIS would supply one type of strips to those persons. I think NIS should do more than only supplying the tablets, they should also supply the monitoring system. Insurance schemes overseas are doing this for diabetics.

I would very much like to hear comments from readers on the above. I would also like to hear what the NIS has to say on my suggestion.

Yours faithfully,
J. Kadaru

Editor’s note: A copy of this letter is being sent to the NIS for any comments it may wish to make.