Parent calls for government to take responsibility to protect supply of life-saving type 1 diabetes treatment
Despite reaching the required 10,000 signatures needed to ensure a government reply, response deemed to lack necessary action to allay concerns about insulin supply.
A recent petition highlighted uncertainty in global supply chain due to international events as crucial factor.
Ruth Walters recently shared her story with DRWF on the need to raise awareness about the vulnerability of people taking insulin relying on their treatment being imported from other countries and set up the petition following a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in her family.
The petition called for the government to “invest in and support insulin production in the UK to ensure self-sufficiency” and reached the required 10,000 signatures to ensure a government response.
The petition text read: “The UK is too reliant on insulin production from other countries. People with diabetes must be able to rest assured that the supply cannot be disrupted by global uncertainties. The UK must increase its own manufacture of insulin.
“Every time global affairs such as the wars in Ukraine, the Middle East etc are in the news, families with relatives with type 1 diabetes live with anxiety around the production chain for insulin being disrupted.
“Although we get most of our insulin from Europe, since Brexit we can’t rely on being the first priority should there be a shortage in supplies. It is vital we produce our own supplies of this life saving substance.”
The government response read: “The government continues to work closely with industry, NHS England and other partners to support resilient medicines supply chains while also strengthening the UK's long-term life sciences manufacturing capability. …We are seeking to ensure that the UK remains an attractive location for investment in advanced life sciences manufacturing and the technologies that underpin future healthcare resilience.”
However, Ruth felt this was not enough – and has called for people to contact their local MPs to put more pressure on authorities to act to ensure people living with type 1 diabetes do not find themselves without access to essential life-saving medication.
Ruth said: “I found the government’s reply to be lack any sort of response. I am bitterly disappointed in their reply to the petition which got more than 10,000 signatures and was still climbing when it was taken down.
“We have highlighted the issues clearly for the government to consider. And they are simply not considering it. It is shameful to say the least and it will cause stress to the diabetes community which is large and growing in numbers by the day.
“In the meantime, the same government is telling us to stockpile food and emergency provisions whilst making no safeguarded provision for people living with type 1 diabetes who will already be living with great anxiety around how they best prepare for emergencies.
“I am outraged and suggest everyone write to their local MP and let it be known that the community will not be ignored and that the government has a responsibility to protect the supply of this life saving drug.”
Read the government response in full:
A statement from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said: “The government is strengthening the resilience of insulin and wider medicines supply, and supports investment in UK medicines manufacturing through the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.
“The government recognises the importance of ensuring patients have reliable access to essential medicines, including insulin. While insulin is supplied through global manufacturing networks, the UK is committed to strengthening the resilience of medicines supply chains and supporting the advanced manufacturing capabilities needed for the medicines of the future.
“The UK is home to world-leading strengths in life sciences research, bioprocessing, advanced therapies and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Through the Life Sciences Sector Plan and wider industrial strategy, the government is working to create the conditions for increased investment in innovative manufacturing technologies and strategic medicines capabilities across the UK.
“The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) is designed to support investment in cutting-edge life sciences manufacturing projects in the UK. The fund aims to attract significant investments that strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity, support highly skilled jobs and improve the UK's long-term resilience and competitiveness in life sciences manufacturing.
“While funding decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis and the Government does not comment on individual commercial proposals, LSIMF can support projects that introduce new manufacturing technologies, expand production capability and strengthen strategically important areas of the life sciences manufacturing base.
“The government is also supporting innovation in biomanufacturing through investment in research infrastructure, process innovation and skills development. This includes supporting the development of next-generation manufacturing technologies that can help make the production of biological medicines more efficient, flexible and resilient.
“Maintaining a strong UK innovation ecosystem helps ensure that the UK remains an attractive location for future investment in the manufacture of complex biological medicines and other strategically important healthcare products.
“The Department of Health and Social Care is aware of supply issues with some insulin presentations; however, a variety of alternative insulin products remain available, some of which are also suitable alternatives to those affected by shortages or discontinuations. We continue to work closely with national clinical experts and suppliers to ensure alternative insulin products can continue to support increased demand, and patients can access suitable alternatives. We have issued comprehensive management guidance to the NHS, including all GPs and community pharmacists.
“The government is focused on strengthening resilience across the entire UK medicines supply chain. We are continuing to strengthen our ability to prevent, mitigate and manage shortages through a range of measures, and last year we published our policy paper, Managing a Robust and Resilient Supply of Medicines, which set out a broad programme of work to strengthen resilience across the supply chain.
“NHS commercial arrangements for pharmaceuticals are designed to support the procurement of medicines for NHS-funded services while securing value for money for taxpayers. Procurement activities are undertaken through established commercial arrangements and in accordance with relevant procurement legislation. Commercial approaches seek to support fair competition, innovation and effective market engagement, helping to ensure the NHS can access the medicines and products it requires. The NHS works with manufacturers, wholesalers, NHS organisations and pharmacies, each of which plays an important role in the procurement and supply of medicines to patients.
“The government continues to work closely with industry, NHS England and other partners to support resilient medicines supply chains while also strengthening the UK's long-term life sciences manufacturing capability. Through initiatives such as LSIMF and wider support for manufacturing innovation, we are seeking to ensure that the UK remains an attractive location for investment in advanced life sciences manufacturing and the technologies that underpin future healthcare resilience.”
Read more Family call for investment in insulin production in the UK to ensure self-sufficiency
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