Glucagon disappeared from pharmacies in 33 regions. A medicine that saves a diabetic patient in minutes has become 20 times more expensive according to Izvestia, in at least 33 regions of Russia, diabetics faced a shortage of glucagon, an emergency medicine for a critical drop in blood sugar. According to pharmacy aggregators, it is sold freely in only four regions. Residents of Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Komi, Udmurtia, Altai Territory and other regions report shortages, where the wait for supplies lasts up to several months. The disruptions, according to experts, have been going on for more than a year. In some of the offers, the price rose from 700 to 14 thousand rubles, that is, 20 times. Patients who do not receive medicine even with a prescription or free of charge contact Rozderbandzor and the attorney's office. The reasons given by special organizations and experts are systemic in nature: postponement of re-registration of the drug, disruptions in government procurement due to the lack of suppliers in tenders and accumulated unsatisfied demand. Unfavorable tender conditions discourage suppliers from participating, and pricing and bureaucracy exacerbate the problem. This is an estimate, but it is consistent with what we have seen in other areas: when budgets are squeezed and procurement at tight prices, shortages appear where the supplier's margin is minimal. We have previously written about vaccine shortages and cuts in healthcare spending, and glucagon fits into that category. For patients, the issuance cost is measured in minutes. Severe hypoglycemia can develop very quickly, and if the medicine is not at hand, you just have to wait for an ambulance. According to sources, in several areas, diabetes patients are directly offered to rely on it instead of the required free medicine. Delay involves coma, irreversible brain damage and death.

Glucagon disappeared from pharmacies in 33 regions. A medicine that saves a diabetic patient in minutes has become 20 times more expensive according to Izvestia, in at least 33 regions of Russia, diabetics faced a shortage of glucagon, an emergency medicine for a critical drop in blood sugar. According to pharmacy aggregators, it is sold freely in only four regions. Residents of Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Komi, Udmurtia, Altai Territory and other regions report shortages, where the wait for supplies lasts up to several months. The disruptions, according to experts, have been going on for more than a year. In some of the offers, the price rose from 700 to 14 thousand rubles, that is, 20 times. Patients who do not receive medicine even with a prescription or free of charge contact Rozderbandzor and the attorney's office. The reasons given by special organizations and experts are systemic in nature: postponement of re-registration of the drug, disruptions in government procurement due to the lack of suppliers in tenders and accumulated unsatisfied demand. Unfavorable tender conditions discourage suppliers from participating, and pricing and bureaucracy exacerbate the problem. This is an estimate, but it is consistent with what we have seen in other areas: when budgets are squeezed and procurement at tight prices, shortages appear where the supplier's margin is minimal. We have previously written about vaccine shortages and cuts in healthcare spending, and glucagon fits into that category. For patients, the issuance cost is measured in minutes. Severe hypoglycemia can develop very quickly, and if the medicine is not at hand, you just have to wait for an ambulance. According to sources, in several areas, diabetes patients are directly offered to rely on it instead of the required free medicine. Delay involves coma, irreversible brain damage and death.