Biocon Reduces Retail Price of its Recombinant Human Insulin 50% in Low-and-Middle Income Countries

Biocon Biologics reduced the retail price of its recombinant human insulin 50 per cent in the low-and-middle income countries, the biotech major said on Friday.

"We will offer the anti-diabetic drug at 10 cents for 40 units of insulin required per patient per day in low-and-middle income countries," said the city-based bio-pharma firm in a statement here.

Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw announced the reduction in the cost of life-saving insulin at the joint United Nations Progamme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) health innovation exchange meeting on Wednesday on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

"Price should not be the reason to choose between life and death," said UNAIDS executive director Gunilla Carlsson on the occasion.

Over 400 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes. Evidence shows as they live longer, many people with HIV and on HIV treatment are becoming susceptible to non-communicable diseases.

"AIDS activism has led to reducing the price of life-saving medicines and saving millions of lives. Our universal health coverage movement is benefiting from the lessons learned by the AIDS response," said Carlsson on the occasion.

The Mumbai-based Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence, an independent, non-profit research institute and global hub, is developing artificial intelligence solutions for social good.

"The Institute has committed to set up a centre of excellence to leverage the use of artificial intelligence for global health," said the statement.

Also Read- NRIs Cheered for PM Modi

The IoT has opened up huge possibilities in health: when connected to the Internet, ordinary medical devices can collect more data, give insight into symptoms and trends, enable remote care and give people more control over their lives and quality of treatment.

Thought-Focus, a technology services firm, will provide access to its Internet of Things (IoT) platform to serve as an affordable, reliable and efficient way to build and extend IoT solutions for transportation, logistics, manufacturing and utilities related to health-care services.

"The IoT has opened up huge possibilities in health. When connected to the Internet, ordinary medical devices can collect more data, give insight into symptoms and trends, enable remote care and give people control over their lives and quality of treatment," said the statement.

Zenysis, a technology firm, said it was investing $ 3.5 million to implement data pilots in five countries over the next three years for helping countries to make evidence-based decisions in rolling out universal health coverage and prioritizing investments in health systems.

Also Read- Positive Social Relationships Help Increase Self-Esteem

"The private sector has a key role to play in advancing the sustainable development goals," added Ms Carlsson. (IANS)