The Silicon Review ^Asia

A study that was published recently in the BMC Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice stated that the Insulin supply that was available in Bengaluru is precariously lesser than the 80% supply that is advised by the World Health Organisation. Only 66.7 per cent of government hospitals keep a supply of this medicine that has been featured in the 2015 Essential Medicine List of India. Often this valuable medicine is also overpriced inin both private and public sectors leading to foreseeable challenged for the common man to access healthcare.

Globally, there are concerns regarding patients’ limited access to insulin, and India has the second largest diabetes burden in the world. We employed a mixed-methods survey approach: a modified World Health Organisation (WHO)/Health Action International (HAI) standard survey, along with qualitative interviews with insulin retailers (pharmacists) and wholesalers to understand insulin availability, affordability and market dynamics in Bengaluru region,” said a researcher who was part of the study that had been conducted. A similar study was previously conducted in the NCR region.

Biocon, India’s major insulin manufacturer of Insulin is also headquartered in Bengaluru and is one the major providers of insulin for the healthcare sector in the city.