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Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme finally on the way
Launching in May, the long-awaited scheme covers the cost of products including bandages and dressings for eligible patients with diabetes.
Chronic wounds are defined as wounds that have not progressed through normal healing stages in 30 days.
Every year, more than 420,000 Australians suffer from a chronic wound, costing patients an average of $4000 in out-of-pocket costs.
From May, the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) is set to ease that cost burden.
The long-awaited scheme will cover the cost of wound consumable products for patients aged 65 and above and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients aged 50 and above, who have diabetes and a chronic wound.
It will cover the full cost of products including bandages, dressings and adhesives, with the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) adding that it will ‘consult with wound care experts to develop the full list of products the scheme will cover’.
In practice, the CWCS will work by allowing a patient with a chronic wound to visit an eligible health professional, who will then assess the wound and order the required wound care products for their patient through an online portal.
‘The health professional will be able to choose from various wound care products listed on the online portal. We are developing the list of eligible products,’ the DoHAC says.
‘The wound care products will be delivered to a patient’s home or health professional’s office, at no cost for the patient.’
The May launch comes more than a year after the $47.8 million scheme was first announced by the Federal Government.
Health professionals deemed eligible for the scheme are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, medical practitioners in a primary care setting, including GPs, nurses, and podiatrists.
However, medical professionals must complete Monash University-developed training to use the online portal.
This new wound care training has been created by Monash wound care experts and includes one-hour online modules which are free and tailored to the needs of different healthcare roles.
Dr Peta Tehan, a clinical high-risk podiatrist and Course Director of Wound Studies at Monash Health, described the scheme as a ‘critical moment for wound care in Australia’.
‘Chronic wounds place an enormous burden on individuals and the health system,’ she said.
‘With this scheme, we have an opportunity to reduce that burden—but only if health professionals are supported to deliver best-practice care.
‘This isn’t just about dressings. It’s about dignity, access, and giving clinicians the tools they need to make a real difference.’
Chronic wounds are defined by the scheme as wounds that have not progressed through normal healing stages in 30 days.
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