Insulin Shortage Crisis: Updates on Availability and Risks in Colombia

2024-02-25 13:50:30

Since last year, insulin has been at “risk of shortage” according to Invima’s medication records. However, this week several patients have stated that they have a series of problems trying to obtain this vital drug.

In this regard, the Ministry of Health spoke out today and assured that 9 insulins are currently marketed in the country that have a current health registration.

As of February 2024, invima reported that Insulin Degludec, Insulin Lispro and Insulin Glargine are being monitored due to possible shortages.

The cause would be the lack of response of availability from the only owner that is marketing the product under the HUMALOG brand.

In the case, for example, of insulin Glargine, the Ministry of Health explains that there is delay and intermittency in the supply of insulin marketed under the brand LANTUS®, produced in Frankfurt (Germany), which would cause a delay in the arrival of the product to the country.

Consequently, Invima classified it as “risk of shortage” and prioritized the procedures related to one-time import authorizations in response to requests filed by the health registration holder to mitigate the shortage of the medicine.

To date, the laboratory states that it may be available in the coming days.

By 2023, 12% of the human insulin market was held by the health registration holder ELLY LILLY with the products HUMULIN N and HUMULIN R, which to date are in expired status by decision of the health registration holder.

Additionally, the health portfolio states that NOVONORDISK, as the main health registration holder for several insulins, has said that it has the availability of the products: Insulin Detemir (Levemir), Insulin Aspartate (Novorapid), Insulin Degludec+Liraglutide (Xulthopy) and Insulin Degludec (Tresiba).

However, the pharmaceutical company assures that commercial developments may be occurring between suppliers and buyers of the medicines.

“In general, for insulins, there is a significant concentration in the market on single registration holders, which means that, in the event of problems caused by one of these manufacturers, there is an impact on the availability of a product without the possibility of having other suppliers that contribute in a timely manner to this availability,” Invima stated today.

As clarified by the Minsalud, they will continue to monitor the situation to promote the availability of these medications in the country.

The portfolio has invited all actors, mainly pharmaceutical managers, wholesalers, EPS and IPS and health registration holders, to continue actively and permanently reporting developments in the availability of Insulins, within the Monitoring System.