Pharma firms ‘push’ costly insulin at patients’ expense

This may come as a shocker. Newer and more expensive categories of insulin are being aggressively "pushed" by drug companies, and, hence, increasingly prescribed by physicians for diabetics. The newer, second generation (rapid and long acting) versions are priced around Rs 500, three to four times costlier than the older versions - increasing the cost of treatment. Diabetes is growing alarmingly in India, with over 65 million patients now. About 30-35 per cent of these are on insulin, while 70-80 per cent of them prescribed insulin therapy in their lifetime.

These aggressive promotions are rampant globally too, with the surge in cost of diabetes therapy sparking off a debate in the medical fraternity, and among patients.