This past week we learned of another person dying because they could not afford their insulin. Enough is enough. No person should have to die because they cannot afford essential medicines.
PFAM would like to take a moment to remember, Alec from Rochester, Minnesota. Alec died because he could not afford his insulin. Ms. Nicole-Smith Holt, Alec's mother stated:
"On June 27th at 5:20 I received a phone call from his girlfriend saying that she had found him dead in his apartment. He had slipped into a diabetic coma and passed away from diabetic ketoacidosis because his blood sugars were too high and he didn't have enough insulin...All of his supplies, his insulin, everything was going to come out of pocket until he met that $7,600 deductible. So, we found out, out-of-pocket, his insulin, his test strips, his needles, all of that was going to cost $1,300 a month". For more about Alec, click here.
There are many people in the United States putting their lives at risk, using less insulin than prescribed simply because they cannot afford the amount required to live healthily and stay alive. Constituents are dying, you would think this would be enough to incite a Congressional outrage... but the political realm is largely silent. It does not have to be like this! The real power lies in the pharmaceutical companies.
T1International's founder and director, Elizabeth Rowley, recently stated in a guest blog for Six Until Me :
"We in the diabetes community have expressed our frustration online, in meetings with these companies, and in numerous blog posts. T1International has also had conversations with some of the “big three” insulin producers about insulin affordability, but unsurprisingly we were met with standard PR responses and blame shifting. Some of our other attempts to talk have been ignored, but the diabetes community as a whole has been talking to Lilly and others about these issues for a long time. Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk know that people are outraged, suffering and dying because insulin costs too much."
We at PFAM are proud to join T1International in this fight. We are also proud that Public Citizen will be joint alongside PFAM and T1international in this very important fight. We hope that insulin producers will open their eyes and see that the status quo is no longer acceptable. PFAM is proud to stand alongside persons needing this life saving medicine and will continue to do so until necessary changes are made.
How can our dedicated blog readers join in the action?
Live near Indianapolis, Indiana? Come to the demonstration. Find more details at T1International's Facebook event. Let us know you are coming by RSVP'ing and sharing with your friends.
Not able to attend the #insulin4all demonstration?
T1International has planned a #insulin4all action day, September 8, 2017. Call your senators, talk about this issue with friends. For more information, check out this link .