2024-02-29 20:57:17
Experts explain why Petro’s statements would be wrong. Patients ask for solutions.
DIARIO DEL HUILA, HEALTH
According to associations of patients with this disease, each day without insulin becomes a matter of life or death. There have already been cases of hospitalizations due to the complications caused by not having the medication on time.
Although different organizations that work for the right to health care for diabetic patients had reported for about a year that a shortage of insulin, a vital product in the treatment of this disease, was looming, this Friday it was learned that In the country there is a lack of several types of insulin on the market.
Hernán Yupanqui, an endocrinologist, revealed that there are “alarming cases”, as there is a growing difficulty in accessing rapid and long-acting insulins, as well as GLP1 injectables, essential for the treatment of thousands of patients with diabetes, a disease that in The country has a high prevalence, with 10 percent of the population already diagnosed (especially type 2) and half undetected.
In fact, the most serious scenario is presented with insulin Glargine, 100 IU and 300 IU injectable solution, as it is prone to shortages since there are not enough suppliers and there is an increase in demand.
According to the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima), this is indeed a problem of a shortage of insulin doses in some batches by the Sanofi laboratory. In that sense, as part of an Invima report from 2023, some types of this medicine were already at risk of shortages.
Said laboratory, through a statement, explained that on January 4 and 14 it informed Invima of “the occurrence of a delay and intermittency in the chain of shipments of Lantus insulin, produced in Frankfurt (Germany)”, which caused a delay in the supply of this product.
To alleviate this serious situation, on the afternoon of this Friday, February 23, an emergency meeting with Sanofi was held at Invima with a view to restoring the supply of insulin in Colombia as soon as possible.
Invima reported that monitoring of availability began “with the holders of health records in current status” and prioritized the procedures that are in progress for study and to be managed as soon as possible. In addition, they have already contacted the holders of the current health registry to continue monitoring the availability of insulin.
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In the case of Insulin Lispro, 100IU/mL Injectable solution, the entity explained that it is being monitored. The same occurs with insulin Degludec, injectable solution cartridge for 100U/mL; The only one that is not being marketed is degludec100 U/ml solution for injection pre-filled pen 3 ml.
Regarding this situation, Invima reported that only next week, between Thursday and Friday (February 29 and March 1), the medication will be available again to remedy the critical situation that currently exists.
However, according to Alexandra Gómez, president of the Colombian Diabetes Foundation, the consequences that this deficit has for thousands of patients imply numerous cases of hospitalization due to the lack of medication in pharmacies since the administration of insulin in these patients is not possible. wait
Liliana Orozco, an internist and diabetes expert, adds in SEMANA that when it comes to diabetes, “it is as serious not to treat it as it is to treat it poorly, since not having it well controlled means having sustained high blood glucose levels. So what’s up? This is going to affect the organs,” hence the concern about the insulin shortage in the country.
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