A severe shortage of an insulin product used by patients with Type 1 diabetes echoed in the National Assembly, as Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nelson Azeem informed the House that the product imported from Germany was in short supply, which could decline further.
Nelson Azeem, while responding to a calling attention notice on Friday, said that the supply of insulin was reduced after its German manufacturer halted supplies while upgrading its products. He said there had been no shortage until June, with stocks available until September.
However, supplies from Germany were disrupted in October, leading to the current shortage. MNA Syeda Amna Batool, through a calling attention notice, drew the attention of the House to a matter of urgent public importance regarding the non-availability of certain essential insulin products, particularly for Type 1 diabetes patients in the country.
The parliamentary secretary said that not only Pakistan, but Asia, as well as Australia and Europe, were also facing a shortage of insulin. He said alternative insulin products with the same dosage and mode of action were readily available in Pakistan and that patients could switch to them on their doctors' recommendation.
However, the mover of the calling attention notice expressed concern about the difficulties patients could face in switching treatments. She said the alternatives were at least 20 per cent more expensive and that many patients did not have access to doctors.
According to her, currently around 34.5 million people in Pakistan have Type 1 diabetes, including children. She said that alternatives were not immediately available.
The parliamentary secretary said that the German manufacturer had previously supplied 3,500 kits, but supplies had now fallen to 1,000 kits and could decline further during the year-long upgrade process. He said the health ministry had asked distributors importing the insulin to arrange supplies, but noted it would be difficult because the manufacturer had halted production.
Meanwhile, the proceedings of the House suffered a premature adjournment without taking up legislative business due to a lack of quorum.