The Future of Insulin Pump Therapy in India and Developing Countries Resale and Recycle A New Vision

Abstract

Sanjay P Gandhi

Diabetes tsunami has hit India in a very devastating way in last decade. There is no doubt that CSII with Insulin pump Therapy has proved superior to MDI (multiple Dose Injection) therapy in Type1DM as well as Type2DM patients. Economics has been a very important issue while advocating the Pump to either patients, type 1 or type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients. Out of 9 (Nine) patients using Insulin Pumps in our centre GANDHI CLINIC, PUNE, INDIA there are 5 Type 2 patients and 4 Type 1DM patients. Two Pumps are deposited at my Clinic due to the sad demise of the Type2DM patients. The relatives of these patients do wish to sell these pumps with some depreciation price i.e. at lower price than the new one. One patient (type2DM) has stopped using the Insulin pump due to the adverse advice from another healthcare provider who also wants to sell the pump at some discounted price. As per my survey in the Metro city of Pune (INDIA) approximately 700 insulin pumps are sold, out of these at least 5-7% of total pumps are not being used anymore. The unused pumps are at least 50 in number. Therefore revenue in terms of PUMPS in one region of INDIA is about 70000 US Dollars. Total number of pumps used in INDIA is 70000-72000 pumps approx. The total unused pumps by the patients could be about 3000 to 5000 pumps in total and thereby the revenue loss in this resource constrained country could be in millions of Dollars. This scenario is probably the same scene in many developing countries wherein the healthcare budgets are limited. In INDIA, Insulin Pump Therapy is not yet covered by Insurance policy of the patients. Since the pumps are usually purchased thru pocket expenses or with Loan or selling some assets like land or Gold, the relatives of the patients are not wrong in expecting some financial recovery after losing the most important thing i.e. the PERSON or even if patient does not want to continue the use of pump due to any reason. We do see refurbished cars sold and there are eligible and deserving candidates available who cannot purchase a new model of the Car. I am sure INDIA is an important market of Diabetes Technology related Products like Insulin Pump, similar to the many developing countries. This article is aimed at KOLs in Dialectology and Economists in the world for a basic policy change in favour of the patient care.

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