South African doctors have flagged a shortage of insulin pen devices for diabetics, with the warning coming hard on the heels of previous supplier Novo Nordisk and other manufacturers failing to meet the country’s demand because of a global shortage.
Manufacturers, who are prioritising the products that are more profitable, are offering insulin in vials instead, Health-e News reports.
Novo Nordisk has supplied more than 14m insulin pens to South Africa over the past three years.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned that transitioning from insulin pen devices to vials and syringes can have major consequences for patients.
“The dosing mechanism on the pens is a more straightforward way of measuring the correct dose, making it easier to inject outside the home,” it said.
Circular
Several weeks ago, the National Department of Health issued a circular instructing healthcare workers to prioritise the available supply of insulin pen sets to the elderly, visually impaired people and children.
The department said a tender was awarded to Novo Nordisk in January for a comprehensive range of insulin formulations, but bids were received only for specific insulin presentations: vials of isophane insulin, soluble insulin, biphasic insulin and analogue insulin pen sets.
“To address the shortfall, a supplementary tender was advertised in March. The bid evaluation process of the supplementary tender is under way,” said the department.
In the meantime, it is obtaining quotations to address any supply constraints.
Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie, a senior programme manager at the University of Pretoria’s Diabetes Research Centre and chairperson of the Diabetes Alliance, warned that switching from pens to vials and syringes on short notice could have an impact impact on diabetic patients as well as the health department.
“It might bring complications into patents’ lives… and impact how the Health Department will manage diabetes. The government needs to get this under control,” he said.
MSF has called on Novo Nordisk and other manufacturers to acknowledge their responsibility and take immediate action to ensure a continuous supply of insulin pens to the country.
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