Short Wave There's A Plan To Drive Down Global Insulin Prices. Will It Work?
Feb 10, 2020
Diabetes is becoming a critical global issue, with millions lacking reliable access to insulin. The World Health Organization is launching a two-year initiative aimed at enhancing the availability of affordable insulin. This program could open the market to more manufacturers and change lives for countless individuals in need. Personal stories illustrate the tough realities faced by patients, while discussions highlight the complex history of insulin production and the need for advocacy in addressing its affordability as a human right.
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Insulin Struggles in Tanzania
- John Peter Molo, a lab technologist in Tanzania, has type 1 diabetes and struggles with insulin access.
- He rationed insulin with his cousin and now buys it from Kenya because it's cheaper.
WHO's Insulin Initiative
- The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a program to increase insulin access in low and middle-income countries.
- This program invites manufacturers to meet WHO standards for quality and affordability.
History of Insulin
- Insulin was first extracted from a cow's pancreas in 1922, revolutionizing diabetes treatment.
- Molecular biology later enabled insulin production using genetically engineered microbes.