MSF: Governments must support UN resolution on diabetes and insulin access | Doctors Without Borders [Video]

In MSF projects, prices of human insulin range from $2.30 to $12.15 per 10mL vial. In non-communicable disease (NCD) programs, insulin ranks among the top five most expensive medicines and has been an issue when considering the number of people MSF is able to treat.

“Without insulin, people living with type 1 diabetes will be extremely ill and die within days to weeks,” said Dr. Abdulmalik Wanyama, hospital director for MSF’s Dagahaley project in Kenya. “We witness this often in our projects, where patients arrive in our emergency rooms simply because they are unable to access insulin on time, or had to ration its use. We really hope this resolution prioritizes transparency regarding the pricing of insulin and the bundle of medical supplies required to inject it and monitor blood glucose levels. This is vital for supporting low- and middle-income countries in planning and implementing diabetes treatment programs.”

Diabetes is …