The fluctuating dollar prices are a cause of the increase in the price of insulin
By Anusha Bodapati
Bengaluru, 10 April 2019.
Insulin prices going up, patients unable to take insulin regularly. The cost of cartridges, pens and basal insulin is on the rise by 20%. The international market has increased the prices of insulin.
An official from National Pharmaceutical pricing authority said “The prices of insulin are on the rise since last two years. We are doing our best to control the fluctuation of the prices. To control the pricing, we are making enough efforts but will still take time to do so.”
The diabetes patients are facing trouble to buy insulin as the prices are increasing. They tell they have to buy as they can’t avoid its intake. The patients said the insulin from the generic stores aren’t as effective as the normal ones
The patients say that earlier, using pens with cartridges was more feasible, with its increase in prices, they shifted to basal insulin.
Raja.B, a diabetes patient, said “When I first got diabetes, my doctor had prescribed me using pens as they are more helpful. The prices kept increasing from 120-140, and it became difficult for me to afford every month, so I shifted to the use of basal insulin, and with its increase in prices, there is no alternative left for me. I did use the insulin from the general stores, but my sugar levels started fluctuating, so I stopped using it.”
Experts said that with the increase in prices, the poorer people find it very difficult. The effect of the insulin from the general stores depend on its quality. Dr R. Anil Kumar of Karnataka Institute of diabetes said “For the type 1 diabetes, insulin isn’t a requirement; it is managed with oral medication. In the case of type 2 diabetes, insulin should be used to control sugar and diabetes. With the fluctuating insulin prices, the patients do complain of not being able to take insulin.”
Fluctuating dollar prices affect the insulin prices too. The fluctuating prices should be controlled to save the patients’ burden.