Insulin pump a boon to diabetics

by Elmo Leonard

Now, people afflicted with diabetees, who need daily injections of insulin are being urged to use a commercially available device called insulin pump. Insulin is stored in the reservoir of a pump which can be worn like a cellphone. The device provides the human organism, vital insulin, on a when-necessary-basis.

The Insulin pump is new to Sri Lanka but has been used in the developed world for 15 years. Backing insulin pump therapy is Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya, president, National Diabetic Centre, Colombo.

Considering that an estimated two million Sri Lankans are diabetics, the distributor, Mega Pharma (Pvt) Ltd, Dehiwala, may not have a field day in selling the product. For, the simplest of this sophisticated devices cost Rs. 300,000 to Rs 400,000 (rupees 109 to a US dollar).

Thus, the company intends requesting government to scrap VAT, on its imports, while Dr Wijesuriya argued that when diabetics are treated more efficiently, it minimises the loss of sight, kidney failure, stroke, problems of the heart, among others.

Chairman Mega Pharma, Shirantha Peiris, said that government could "invest" by not charging VAT on imports of insulin pumps, thus, preventing, expenditure of foreign exchange on treating people who would come up with ailments such as those above.

Medtronic, USA, claim its brand is the "best in the world," and Adrian Gut, from Medtronic Switzerland, was in Colombo for its launch.

Chairman Mega Pharma Shirantha Peiris, said that athletes who use the insulin pump even take part in marathon races.

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