Bridging the access gap to diabetes care for children: new report

The article discusses a new report published by the Access to Medicine Foundation on 13 May, which evaluates how pharmaceutical companies are working to expand access to diabetes care for children and young people (CYP) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The article outlines the report’s findings that, while 11 company-backed initiatives cover over half of LMICs, less than 10 per cent of the 825,000 CYP in need received care in 2023. It reflects the report’s observation that three companies are expanding product offerings to include insulin analogues and pens, with some introducing monitoring tools. The article also echoes the report on capacity-building, highlighting Sanofi’s KiDS school engagement and Lilly and Novo Nordisk’s investments in infrastructure.

The article concludes with a summary of the report’s recommendations, calling for a move away from donation-based models towards sustainable, government-owned systems of care. It underscores that companies have the tools to drive a “fundamental shift” by improving product availability, addressing affordability, and ensuring the right treatments and technologies reach the populations that need them most.