Post by Banker on Jun 9, 2012 3:25:06 GMT 7
DISABLED Australians are being forced to pay thousands of dollars more than their overseas counterparts for essential equipment such as wheelchairs and walking aids because overseas websites, which sell the same products for a fraction of the price, are being prevented from shipping them to Australia.
Disability advocacy groups have joined frustrated Australian families in calling for an inquiry into why local sellers of disability equipment are charging up to five times more for some equipment and whether they are breaching competition laws by trying to prevent websites from shipping here.
They claim millions of dollars in government funding is wasted on overpriced equipment while disabled Australians wait up to a year or more for essential equipment due to funding shortages.
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''If we were paying less for our equipment then we could afford more of it and the government subsidies would be able to reach more people,'' the executive director of Women with Disabilities Victoria, Keran Howe, said. ''I would like to see an inquiry into the large price discrepancies.''
Calls for an inquiry were echoed by the Youth Disability Advocacy Service manager, George Taleporos, who advocates for young people with disabilities and is awaiting funding approval for a new wheelchair.
''I think there is a lot of profiteering that goes on and you can't help but feel the distributors here are taking advantage of people who have no choice but to buy this equipment,'' he said.
The Herald believes some local distributors are putting pressure on overseas suppliers to stop selling to Australians.
Tony Mason, from Dejay Medical and Scientific, which sells several overseas brands, admits he tries to prevent international competition where he can.
''I would like to see it [overseas shipping to Australia] stopped and sometimes we've been able to do that.''
He says he informs international suppliers when he becomes aware of equipment that has been purchased from overseas so they can ask the website to stop selling here.
Chris Sparks, from Assistive Technology Suppliers Australasia, which represents local manufacturers and sellers, says distributors are reaching agreements with international suppliers to stop shipping here to protect the reputation of the brands.
''I think it's to protect the brand because these international companies are not set up to provide that one-on-one customer service that the local distributors can,'' he said.
Mr Sparks said the main reason Australians were paying more for equipment was because distributors here had lower volumes and had to factor service fees into their margins.
Families argue that while fitting and servicing is required for some more complex equipment, it does not explain the huge mark-ups on basic equipment.
Families have told the Herald of a Hippocampe beach wheelchair which cost $3000 on a French website compared to $6000 here; a Height Right chair for $160 in the US compared with $1200; and a walking aid that cost $1700 in the US compared to $3000.
''We're talking about differences of up to $3000 … It's appalling,'' Donna Economidis, who buys equipment for her son from overseas websites, said
Read more: www.smh.com.au/national/disabled-say-equipment-providers-profiteering-20120608-201db.html#ixzz1xEes1rGb
Disability advocacy groups have joined frustrated Australian families in calling for an inquiry into why local sellers of disability equipment are charging up to five times more for some equipment and whether they are breaching competition laws by trying to prevent websites from shipping here.
They claim millions of dollars in government funding is wasted on overpriced equipment while disabled Australians wait up to a year or more for essential equipment due to funding shortages.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''If we were paying less for our equipment then we could afford more of it and the government subsidies would be able to reach more people,'' the executive director of Women with Disabilities Victoria, Keran Howe, said. ''I would like to see an inquiry into the large price discrepancies.''
Calls for an inquiry were echoed by the Youth Disability Advocacy Service manager, George Taleporos, who advocates for young people with disabilities and is awaiting funding approval for a new wheelchair.
''I think there is a lot of profiteering that goes on and you can't help but feel the distributors here are taking advantage of people who have no choice but to buy this equipment,'' he said.
The Herald believes some local distributors are putting pressure on overseas suppliers to stop selling to Australians.
Tony Mason, from Dejay Medical and Scientific, which sells several overseas brands, admits he tries to prevent international competition where he can.
''I would like to see it [overseas shipping to Australia] stopped and sometimes we've been able to do that.''
He says he informs international suppliers when he becomes aware of equipment that has been purchased from overseas so they can ask the website to stop selling here.
Chris Sparks, from Assistive Technology Suppliers Australasia, which represents local manufacturers and sellers, says distributors are reaching agreements with international suppliers to stop shipping here to protect the reputation of the brands.
''I think it's to protect the brand because these international companies are not set up to provide that one-on-one customer service that the local distributors can,'' he said.
Mr Sparks said the main reason Australians were paying more for equipment was because distributors here had lower volumes and had to factor service fees into their margins.
Families argue that while fitting and servicing is required for some more complex equipment, it does not explain the huge mark-ups on basic equipment.
Families have told the Herald of a Hippocampe beach wheelchair which cost $3000 on a French website compared to $6000 here; a Height Right chair for $160 in the US compared with $1200; and a walking aid that cost $1700 in the US compared to $3000.
''We're talking about differences of up to $3000 … It's appalling,'' Donna Economidis, who buys equipment for her son from overseas websites, said
Read more: www.smh.com.au/national/disabled-say-equipment-providers-profiteering-20120608-201db.html#ixzz1xEes1rGb