Tenders for supplying insulin have been finally held in all regions of Ukraine, but even though they were delayed in previous years as well, this year saw unprecedented delays. For instance, the Kyiv tender was completed just a month ago. According to chairperson of the Ukrainian Diabetes Association Valentyna Ocheretianko, the insulin situation has stabilized, and providing it to refugees from the east of the country is the sole unsolved problem.
“We face increasing numbers of problematic cases involving refugees from the east who have moved to other regions and require treatment. Insulin is a lifesaving drug, it should be administered daily. The dose cannot be cut. Permanent insulin users cannot share their medication with the migrants. Meanwhile, insulin that had been earmarked for patients from Crimea is now being redistributed to cover the migrants’ needs,” Ocheretianko told us.
The Ukrainian Diabetes Association can only guess how many migrants need its assistance now. “We do not know how many people need insulin now,” Ocheretianko said. “Nobody can count migrants under prevailing conditions. So far, we have received several dozen requests from people needing the drug, and all these cases have been resolved. I think the rest of diabetes patients were able to get insulin on direct visit to a hospital.”
According to the chairperson, eastern regions enjoyed stable insulin supplies as recently as a month ago. The association has virtually no way to contact patients in the Donbas now, but it is aware that some insulin comes there through volunteers’ efforts.
Ocheretianko hopes that the difficult situation of the country will not see the government abandoning patients to their fate, for death due to lack of insulin is no less terrible than death by bullet. “When people are killed, it is instant death, but when a person dies from lack of insulin, it is a terrible experience for them and their loved ones alike. You know that a person needs help, but cannot do anything,” Ocheretianko concluded.
