Daily Time
The National Assembly was informed on Friday that Pakistan is facing a shortage of Apidra, a rapid-acting insulin manufactured by Sanofi, following a disruption at its German production facility. Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nelson Azeem said supplies had fallen from 3,500 kits to 1,000, with the manufacturing upgrade expected to take a year. His assurance that alternative products were available drew concern from MNA Syeda Amna Batool, who pointed out that substitutes cost at least 20 per cent more and many patients lacked access to doctors who could supervise a change in treatment. For people who depend on insulin every day, such assurances offer little comfort unless the medicine is within reach and affordable.
The health ministry and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan have, till now, maintained that the problem concerns one brand rather than a nationwide shortage of insulin. However, switching between insulin formulations requires medical advice, possible dose adjustments and careful monitoring of blood glucose levels. As for families already struggling to make ends meet, finding a specialist and paying more for treatment can be a tall order.
Pakistan can ill afford disruptions to essential diabetes care. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 34.5 million adults in the country live with diabetes, one of the highest burdens worldwide. For those with Type 1 diabetes, an interruption in appropriate insulin treatment can lead to life-threatening complications.
Nor has Pakistan been spared recurring medicine shortages. Last August, the Pakistan Medical Association warned that at least 80 essential medicines had become unavailable, including 25 reportedly without substitutes. Drugs for diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular illnesses figured among those affected. The causes vary, ranging from international supply disruptions to pricing disputes and difficulties faced by domestic manufacturers. Yet the burden invariably falls on patients, who are left running from pillar to post in search of prescribed medicines.
There is also a larger question of pharmaceutical security. Pakistan remains dependent on imported insulin analogues and specialised biological medicines. Efforts towards local production and technology transfer deserve encouragement, although establishing reliable manufacturing facilities will take time and considerable investment. In the meantime, diversified imports, better stock monitoring and timely communication with suppliers are within the government’s reach.
DRAP should establish when the disruption was first communicated, assess available stocks and ensure that hospitals and pharmacies can guide patients towards appropriate alternatives.
Equally important is keeping a close watch on prices so that temporary shortages do not become an excuse for overcharging.
The government’s efforts to reassure patients are welcome. But a medicine’s availability on official records means precious little when someone cannot find it at the neighbourhood pharmacy. *