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The phenomenon has been called the scourge of urban life: an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity have resulted in a recrudescence of type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body can not produce enough of a kind. insulin to regulate blood sugar.
Scientists now claim that millions of diabetics worldwide may not be able to access insulin over the next decade – and perhaps even longer.
About 400 million people with diabetes between the ages of 20 and 79 live with type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the disease. More than half of them in China, India and the United States. By 2030, it is estimated that the number exceeds 500 million. The other form of diabetes is type 1, in which the body attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells.
A new study published in the journal Science Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology states that about 80 million people with diabetes will need insulin by 2030. But about half of them – probably most in Asia and Africa – will not be able to do it. "One in two people with type 2 diabetes do not have access to the insulin they need."
"Access (to insulin) is defined as the combination of product availability and affordability," said Dr. Sanjay. Basu, from Stanford University in the United States, who coordinated the research. "In addition to the price issue, there must also be a supply chain capable of safely delivering a refrigerated medicine and everything that goes with it, such as needles and sterile syringes."
Why insulin, an already existing drug has been considered as one of the revolutionary drugs of the twentieth century and is still very expensive over the years?
Scientists have explained that three multinationals (Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi) control 96% of the volume of insulin sold worldwide and 99% of the estimated sales value of $ 21 billion.
Overall Control
Despite More than 90 Countries Among Even the United States, where more than 20 million people were diagnosed with diabetes, personal expenditure on insulin increased by 89% between 2000 and 20 years old. 10. Even among adults who have health insurance. The price of the medicine bottle has risen from 40 USD to 130 USD – each bottle usually lasts a few weeks.
There are also considerations about the availability of the drug.
Global control of the insulin market, according to David Henri Beran of Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva means that countries have few supplier choices. "It forced people to change the type of insulin they took because companies were taking products off the market."
There are different types of insulin. And doctors prescribe the most beneficial type to each patient, depending on his response to the drug, the type of life that he leads, the age, the blood glucose goals and the number of people he / she has. injections to be taken daily.
Various low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable to stock-outs. A study on the availability of insulin showed that stocks were low in six countries: Brazil, Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In Mozambique, for example, 77% of the country's total insulin stock is in the capital, resulting in a shortage of the drug in other areas.
"In the world, problems such as Beran's availability said:" So, why a drug discovered so long ago by scientists at the University of Toronto is still not available in As a generic drug? "(Scientists sold the patent to the university for $ 1.) High-demand drugs often become more affordable once their patents expire, thanks to cheap competitors.
According to scientists at Jeremy A Greene and Kevin Riggs, one of the reasons is that insulin is more complex and difficult to copy, and generic manufacturers have considered that "n & rsquo; It was not worth it. "The biosimilar insulin, which is similar to insulin, is also available on the market, at more competitive prices, but below the generic version. [19659002] Scientists say that insulin should be included in universal health coverage programs and that global donors
Clearly, weak health systems, limited access to health facilities, health care for diabetics and prices hinder access to health services.
"Few things must happen, including pricing and distribution infrastructure," Basu explained.
Diabetes Basics
– There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. There is also gestational diabetes, which can occur during pregnancy.
– In type 1, which is usually diagnosed early in life but can appear at any age, insulin must be injected.
– People develop type 2 when the insulin that they produce does not work properly or when it is not sufficiently produced. This may be due to the fact that the person is overweight, inactive or also has a family history. It is much more common than type 1, accounting for 90% of all people with diabetes. Some people with type 2 take insulin, while others control their blood sugar levels with the help of medications, exercise and a healthier diet.
– Failure to control blood glucose in the long term can lead to complications such as nerves, kidneys, eyes, and feet, but proper treatment and care can reduce the risk.
Sources: NHS (British Health System) Diabetes UK
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