With insulin costs skyrocketing, the American Diabetes Association recently called for greater transparency in the supply chain, demanding investigation into price hikes and launching a petition to ensure that no diabetic patients are denied access.
A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) confirmed that insulin prices nearly tripled in one decade — between 2002 and 2013 — forcing some to ration their supplies, a practice considered to be dangerous and likely to cause complications.
"No one in need of lifesaving insulin should ever go without it due to prohibitive costs," Dr. Desmond Schatz, president of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association, said. "We call on Congress and all those involved in the insulin supply chain to solve this crisis and to protect the millions of Americans who need insulin to stay alive. We also invite all Americans to join us in taking action by signing our petition."
If unmanaged or inadequately treated, diabetes can lead to blindness, amputation, kidney failure, heart disease or stroke.
The association advocates for universal access to health care. So many organizations are part of the supply chain for insulin — from manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmaceutical benefit managers to insurers and pharmacies — that price markup is not always obvious or understandable to consumers.
The association has urged Congress to conduct hearings for a better general understanding of the medicine’s cost structure, stating that it is “the first step to identifying workable solutions.” The public can sign its petition at StopDiabetes.com/insulin.
