The Ministry of Health announced an agreement to bring forward the delivery of a shipment of 1.8 million units of insulin by the end of December. In a note, the ministry informed that the strategy guarantees supply in the Unified Health System (SUS). “The reinforcement of stocks allows the continuity of treatment for all patients treated by the public health network.”
According to the statement, the agreement with Novo Nordisk, a manufacturer of insulin pens, defines the delivery of 93% of the contracted volume by December – the initial forecast was to make only 50% available this year. According to the ministry, the company’s production in Brazil is responsible for 15% of the entire world supply of the input.
“The insulin to be delivered by Novo Nordisk is produced in a plant located in Montes Claros (MG), recognized as the largest insulin factory in Brazil and Latin America, with around two thousand employees”, highlighted the ministry.
Uninterrupted offer
In the statement, the Ministry of Health informs that it maintains regular purchases for the supply of insulin in the SUS, “ensuring an uninterrupted supply of the medicine”.
Until October this year, 49.9 million units of NPH insulin and 10.7 million of regular insulin (vials and pens) were distributed throughout the country, meeting the demand of states and municipalities.
“Currently, there is a worldwide situation of restricted insulin supply. The Ministry of Health acted to overcome this situation”, he concluded.
The guidance is that anyone with an indication of insulin use and difficulty accessing the medication in private pharmacies, including through the Farmácia Popular program, should look for a basic health unit (UBS) to request the medication.
