Government authorities have denied reports of a widespread insulin shortage in Pakistan, saying that alternatives remain available, after patients with Type 1 diabetes raised concerns online over the unavailability of Apidra, a brand they rely on to manage their disease.
The health ministry and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) said that insulin glulisine, sold under the brand name Apidra by Sanofi, was unavailable because of international supply constraints.
They maintained that other insulin formulations remained available across the country.
Several patients posted videos on social media platforms describing difficulty finding Apidra at pharmacies, highlighting concerns about switching to other insulin brands. They also called on the government and Sanofi to address the unavailability and provide information about the supply.
Noor ul Fajar, who said that she had relied on Apidra for 15 years and had only one day’s supply left, had been unable to find the insulin in Pakistan.
“I am a Type 1 diabetic. I have been relying on Apidra for the past 15 years. I only have one day left; after that, I can’t use it because it is currently unavailable anywhere in Pakistan,” she said in a video posted online.
Fajar stated that she had tried switching to alternative insulin brands but had not found another formulation that worked for her. She appealed to the federal and Punjab governments to intervene, saying that patients should not lose access to medication they need to manage their condition.
Rameen Amir, who said that she had used Apidra SoloStar for 13 to 15 years, also reported difficulty finding the insulin at pharmacies across Karachi. She added that she had only a few units left and appealed to people to check their local pharmacies for the injection or its vial formulation.
“This insulin is like oxygen for me; I cannot survive without it,” Amir said, describing the situation as a source of anxiety and stress.
Aashir Anwar called on Sanofi Pakistan, Sanofi Global and DRAP to clarify why Apidra had become unavailable. He stated that patients needed to know whether the company faced a temporary supply shortage or had decided to withdraw the product from the market.
Anwar also warned patients against buying insulin from the black market and urged those unable to find Apidra to consult their doctors about alternatives, including NovoRapid and Humalog.
Dr Farhat Zubair, a doctor who also has Type 1 diabetes, raised concerns about the cost of switching brands. She said that Apidra costs around Rs1,400, compared with Rs1,900 for NovoRapid and Rs2,400 for Humalog.
Zubair stated that switching insulin after years of using one formulation required a process and medical guidance. She also questioned whether families in remote areas could afford the higher price of alternatives.
Ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah said that insulin aspart, sold as NovoRapid and insulin lispro, sold as Humalog, remained available nationwide.
“All other primary insulin classes remain fully accessible across Pakistan,” Shah said.
He explained that insulin analogues include rapid-acting, long-acting and premixed formulations, while human insulin includes short-acting and intermediate-acting formulations.
Shah advised patients who have been prescribed Apidra to consult their healthcare providers before changing treatment, saying that any switch required dose adjustment and monitoring to maintain blood sugar control.
In August 2025, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) raised concerns over a shortage of essential medicines, reporting that at least 80 medicines were unavailable, including 25 without substitutes. The association said that the shortages affected medicines used to treat diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease and psychiatric disorders.
In March 2026, the association also warned of shortages of essential medicines for paediatric tuberculosis and cancer, calling for immediate intervention.
