IDF statement on availability of insulin in Greece
According to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) Diabetes Atlas Fourth Edition, there are over 750,000 people with diabetes in Greece.
IDF takes the position that every person with diabetes should have access to the appropriate medication and the ability to choose and tailor treatment to individual needs. Therefore, the permanent availability of insulin is a priority, even in times of financial crisis.
“Insulin is life-saving and so it’s important to guarantee full access,” said IDF President Jean Claude Mbanya. “Failure to do so can result in serious and irreversible consequences to their health.”
Lack of proper care and treatment of diabetes can also cripple national economies through lost productivity and increased health care and pension costs, not to mention the personal hardship and suffering it causes.
As the advocate for the rights of people with diabetes worldwide, the International Diabetes Federation urges Governments and the pharmaceutical industry to negotiate and collaborate in a way that will ensure an uninterrupted supply of insulin and other essential diabetes medicines and equipment.
