Procurement and Supply

Informed procurement is critical to ensuring insulin and supplies are available for all in need. This section provides tools and information divided into four areas:

  • Procurement: guidelines for the procurement of insulin and supplies in LMICs
  • Selection: information about types of insulin and a list of products and manufacturers
  • Need: estimation of insulin need for people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  • Pooled Procurement: :  case study that evaluates the potential benefits of regional/group procurement initiatives for insulin and supplies

Procurement

GUIDELINES FOR PROCUREMENT OF INSULINS AND ASSOCIATED SUPPLIES (2021)  | Report

The objective of these ACCISS guidelines is to provide guidance to LMICs and specifically public sector procurers on how to improve procurement of insulins and associated supplies

SOURCES OF INSULIN, ORAL MEDICINES, AND MEDICAL DEVICES FOR DIABETES FOR LOW-AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES (2024) | Factsheet

Different initiatives exist at global level which provide sources where countries can purchase diabetes medicines and medical devices.  The purpose of the document, made in collaboration with the NCD Policy Lab, is to  inform key actors (from national programs and procurement agencies/departments) on existing mechanisms that can be used to facilitate access to essential diabetes medicines and medical devices for regular procurement, when the national procurement system is facing difficulties to respond to the needs of the population, or in case of stock out situations in countries.

Selection

INSULIN PRODUCTS AND INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS (Updated 2025) | List

Here you will find a list of all insulin products and distributors, updated annually

(ULTRA-)LONG-ACTING INSULIN ANALOGUES FOR PEOPLE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS (2021) | Article

This Cochrane report compares the effects of long‐term treatment with (ultra‐)long‐acting insulin analogues to NPH insulin (neutral protamine Hagedorn) or another (ultra‐)long‐acting insulin analogue in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

GUIDELINES FOR INSULIN USE (2018) |  English: Report | Summary | Español: Informe | Sumario Français: Rapport | Русский : Отчет| Резюме |

This tool aims to assist decision-makers when formulating evidence-based recommendations on national clinical guidelines and reimbursement decisions.

INTERCHANGEABILITY OF BIOSIMILARS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION | Report

This report outlines European and United States guidelines on the interchangeability of biosimilars. It includes studies where people switched from an insulin reference product to a biosimilar and advice on the use of biosimilars in clinical practice.

Need

TYPE 1 DIABETES IN 2017: GLOBAL ESTIMATES OF INCIDENT AND PREVALENT CASES IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS | ARTICLE
ESTIMATION OF GLOBAL INSULIN USE FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS, 2018-2030 | Report| Article| Map

To learn more about the estimation of need for people living with type 2 diabetes, please click here

Pooled Procurement

POOLED PROCUREMENT OF INSULINS AND ASSOCIATED SUPPLIES | Report

Analysis of Mechanisms and their Applicability for Small State Countries or Countries with
Limited Needs

The objective of the study is to assess whether multi-country pooled procurement (tendering/purchasing/framework agreements or other) and/or information sharing initiatives could be beneficial for small lower-income nations for the purchasing of insulin, insulin syringes, blood glucose meters and blood glucose test strips, using the Pacific as a case study.