E-DRUG: Global snapshot of the price of insulin
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear E-druggers
On 11 May 2010 people from the Health Action International (HAI)
network, the WHO and others in 60 countries collected the price a
patient would have to pay (if they paid the full price) for a 10 ml
traditional vial of 100IU/ml soluble human insulin injection in their
closest private retail pharmacy. This one-day snapshot of the price of
insulin is the second in the series - on 30 November 2009 a snapshot was
taken on the price of a course of ciprofloxacin 500mg tablets.
Prices (in US$) for each brand of soluble human insulin found in the
pharmacy (10ml tradition vial) can be seen on a map and charts on HAIs
website, plus there is an analysis of the results. See
http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices/
These prices should not be considered representative of the situation in
a given country, since great price variation exists within some
countries. However, they are indicative of what patients would have to
pay, if paying the full retail price, in those pharmacies on that day.
Prices varied considerably across countries; from US$1.55 in Iran to
US$76.69 in Austria, a difference of almost 5000%. While patient prices
are often lower in low-income countries, the prices in some low- and
middle-income countries are higher than in high-income countries.
Even when prices are lower, insulin is still unaffordable for those on
low incomes - which is often the majority of the population - resulting
in dire consequences for people with diabetes when they cannot afford to
buy the medicine.
Nearly ninety years after its discovery, access to insulin is beyond the
reach of millions of people with diabetes around the world. Access to
insulin is an essential and non-negotiable need, in short, a matter of
life or death for these people. Governments need to examine access to
affordable insulin and give it the priority it deserves.
Regards
Margaret Ewen
Coordinator, Global Projects (Pricing)
HAI Global
Overtoom 60/III
1054 HK Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 489 1846 (direct), +31 20 683 3684 (office)
Fax: +31 20685 5002
Email: marg@haiweb.org
Web site: http://www.haiweb.org