IN A POWERFUL demonstration of growing concern over healthcare access, the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions convened on September 25 to question pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi about their exorbitant pricing of diabetes medications.

This urgent dialogue comes amid alarming statistics: approximately half of all individuals with type 2 diabetes lack access to the insulin they need, with prices marked up as much as 40,000%.

Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is a charity that provides humanitarian medical care. It is a non-governmental organisation of French origin known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases.

A media statement released by MSF stated that diabetes affects an estimated 537 million people globally, with a particularly worrying rise in cases projected in low- and middle-income countries, especially Africa, where cases could surge by 134% by 2045.

The growing crisis has drawn the attention of organisations like MSF, which is advocating for immediate action to enhance access to these lifesaving treatments.

Pharmacist coordinator at MSF’s Access Campaign, Christa Cepuch, said the corporations making diabetes medicines have profited enough; their research has shown that their prices are astronomically marked up, sacrificing patient access.

"Every day, we witness a lack of access to insulin pens and newer diabetes medicines in countries where we work," said Cepuch.

A recent MSF study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights the stark contrast between production costs and current market prices. For instance, while long-acting insulin pens can be produced for as little as $1.30, they retail for up to $28.40 in the US and much higher in other countries. GLP-1 medications, essential for diabetes management, see similar discrepancies, costing up to $353 (about R6,000) in the US, despite a feasible production cost of just $0.89.

The statement also stated that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk currently dominate the diabetes medication market, benefiting from patent monopolies that inhibit the entry of generic manufacturers.

This lack of competition allows these companies to set prices that effectively exclude vast populations from accessing necessary treatments. MSF cites the example of HIV medication, where competition among generic manufacturers resulted in a dramatic 99% price reduction over the past two decades.

During the Senate hearing, Mihir Mankad, director of global health advocacy and policy at MSF USA, posed a critical question to the pharmaceutical companies. Mankad asked, what makes it acceptable to charge extraordinarily high prices for lifesaving medicines when they cost just a few dollars to produce?"

In light of these developments, MSF has issued open letters urging Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi to prioritize patient access over profits. The organisation calls for a reduction in prices and an opening of the market to generic manufacturers to ensure that all individuals who need diabetes treatment can access it affordability.

As the conversation around healthcare equity continues to evolve, the pressure mounts on pharmaceutical corporations to take responsible action. With millions of lives at stake, the urgency for change has never been clearer.

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