Insulin: prices, availability, and affordability in public and private Peruvian pharmacies

Availability in public pharmacies is 63.2% for regular insulin and 68.4% for NPH (isophane) insulin, but differences in availability were observed between levels of care and between regions.

Private pharmacies have a greater variety of insulin, but availability is less than 11%.

The median price of human insulin was three to four times higher in private pharmacies than in public pharmacies. In comparison, availability of metformin was 89.5% in public pharmacies and 77.7% in private ones.

Affordability in public pharmacies for one month of treatment with human insulin or generic metformin is less than one day’s wage

The price for human insulin and generic metformin in public pharmacies is affordable.

However, efforts are needed to improve their availability in the different regions and levels of care.

Source: PAHO:  Insulin: prices, availability, and affordability in public and private Peruvian pharmacies