National Diabetes Scheme (NDSS)

Living with diabetes means a steady, lifelong need for supplies, and paying full retail for all of it would add up fast. The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) takes the sting out of that, and most people access it through their local pharmacy.

What is the NDSS?

The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is an Australian Government initiative, delivered with Diabetes Australia, that helps people with diabetes access subsidised products and support. You register once (free), and from then on you can buy eligible diabetes products at subsidised prices through registered access points, the great majority of which are community pharmacies. It is one of the most useful, and underused, supports available to Australians with diabetes.

What can you collect?

Depending on your diabetes type, treatment, and NDSS eligibility, an access point may supply:

  • blood glucose and urine test strips;
  • pen needles and syringes;
  • insulin pump consumables;
  • continuous and flash glucose monitoring products for eligible people.

Some items, particularly specific sensors or pump consumables, may need to be ordered in rather than kept on the shelf, so a quick call before you visit saves a wasted trip when you are running low.

Who is it for?

It is for people in Australia who have diabetes (type 1, type 2, gestational, and other types) and are registered with the NDSS. Registration is arranged with the help of your doctor or diabetes educator. If you have diabetes and are not registered, ask your GP, diabetes educator, or pharmacist how to sign up; it is free and worth doing.

How it works at the pharmacy

Bring your NDSS card or number and your Medicare details. The pharmacist processes your order at the subsidised price. If someone else collects supplies for you, check in advance what details the pharmacy needs so they are not turned away. One trap worth knowing: ask the pharmacist to check your product still matches your current device, because a change of meter, pump, or sensor can make old consumables useless, and people regularly stock up on the wrong strips after a device upgrade.

Why a regular access point helps

You can use any NDSS access point, but choosing a regular one has quiet advantages: the staff get to know your devices and ordering pattern, can anticipate when you are due, and can have your usual sensor ready rather than ordering it from scratch. For something you will be doing for years, that familiarity is worth a lot. Because the scheme is national, your registration travels with you if you move or are away from home.

How it’s regulated in Australia

The NDSS is funded by the Australian Government and administered by Diabetes Australia, with eligibility and product rules set nationally. Pharmacies registered as access points operate within those rules, and pharmacists are registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. The scheme sits alongside, not in place of, the diabetes care led by your GP and diabetes team.

Official sources

Register once, then collect your supplies close to home. Use the button below to find an NDSS access point pharmacy near you.

2348 pharmacies in our directory offer this service.

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Pharmacies offering National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)

A sample from the directory. Details come from public sources — confirm the service with the pharmacy.

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