A reported shortage of penfill insulin for diabetic patients at government hospitals and health clinics nationwide is expected to be corrected by the end of this month.
The Health Ministry's Pharmaceutical Services Programme, in a statement to Malaysiakini, confirmed the short-term supply disruption due to problems faced by the manufacturer, Biocon Sdn Bhd.
"There is a short term supply disruption. Biocon has had to upgrade its facility. The supplier is getting alternative supplies," it said.
The statement also said the Health Ministry was currently in the process of distributing the alternative supplies from Biocon to all government hospitals and health clinics.
"All states will receive staggered supplies. Stocks (of penfill insulin) will normalise by end of January," it said.
Johor State Health, Culture and Heritage Committee chairperson Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar yesterday said the state health department, since Dec 5 last year, had not received its purchase of penfill insulin comprising 57,695 boxes worth RM1.82 million.
As a result, he said the state Health Department had switched to supplying insulin in vials while borrowing stocks from other hospitals.
"Insulin which is supplied in vials typically requires patients to use disposable syringes and needles for each dose while insulin provided in a penfill requires patients to assemble the device provided free-of-charge, only having to buy the needles," said Khuzzan.
He said this in response to a Facebook post which claimed there were complaints from the public in Segamat, especially by diabetic patients, who were directed to buy their own syringes and needles from pharmacies due to the lack of penfill insulin at the district hospital there. - Mkini
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