Kolkata: Doctors have demanded a cap on insulin prices so that everyone is able to buy the drug. Debasis Basu, a diabetologist and chairman of Metta Dana Foundation that has for years supported patients in need of insulin, called for a “zero-cost insulin care package for every person with clinical need for insulin”. “No one should die for want of insulin,” said Basu, who delivered a talk at Calcutta International Club on Friday.“The insulin price ranges from Rs 2.5 per unit to Rs 6/unit. The cost of vials is less than that of pen. But someone who must take a shot of insulin everyday will prefer pen as it is less painful. Think about children who must take insulin every day. Will their parents pay for their education or for insulin?” asked paediatrician Apurba Ghosh, executive director of Institute of Child Health.KK Gangopadhyay, a senior endocrinologist with Peerless Hospital, said the prices have reduced because of doctors who advocated price cut in meetings with govt and policymakers.“The price of per unit of insulin varies between 50 paise and Rs 3 per unit. Roughly the insulin requirement of Indian patients is between 20 and 30 units per day,” said Gangopadhyay.Arunansu Talukdar, head of geriatric medicine at Medical College and Hospital, said “Patients stopped taking insulin after few weeks as they could no longer afford taking it regularly.”
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