Khaberni - The crisis of insulin medication shortage in Libya has worsened, which threatens the lives of thousands of patients relying on it daily, amid warnings from medical organizations of an impending health disaster.
Libya faces a severe health crisis as the shortage of insulin medications in markets exacerbates, threatening the lives of thousands of patients who depend on it daily, according to the Libyan Organization for Diabetes Friends. The organization has called on health authorities and relevant bodies in the country to urgently intervene to secure sufficient quantities of high-quality insulin at an affordable price, warning of an imminent danger threatening the lives of children and adults suffering from diabetes across different Libyan regions.
The organization explained that the increasing shortage of insulin and rising prices, in addition to delays in salary payments and financial support designated for patients, have caused significant suffering for those affected by diabetes. It called on responsible entities to reassess the financial procedures affecting patients, with establishing a quick and transparent mechanism for disbursing entitlements and ensuring the medicine reaches its beneficiaries without delay.
The organization stressed the need for a free or subsidized distribution system for low-income families to ensure everyone's right to access treatment without discrimination. It also urged local and international humanitarian and health organizations to cooperate with the relevant Libyan authorities to avert what it described as a "potential health disaster."
In conclusion of its statement, the organization affirmed its continued defense of the patients' rights to medicine and a dignified life, urging decision-makers to bear their ethical and humanitarian responsibilities towards those affected by diabetes, noting that the disease is not a weakness but a condition that requires continuous care and ongoing health protection.
Despite the absence of recent official statistics in Libya, data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for the year 2024 indicates that the number of adults with diabetes in the country amounts to approximately 634.8 thousand individuals aged between 20 and 79 years, with a prevalence rate reaching 15.8% of the population.
Recent local field studies have also revealed an increase in diabetes complications such as retinopathy and neuropathy among patients visiting clinics, reflecting poor medical follow-up and difficulties in regular access to healthcare, especially in remote areas.
Libya faces a severe financial crisis due to the existence of two parallel governments in the east and west, which forced the Libyan Central Bank to apply the principle of disbursement according to financial arrangements, that is, allocating 1:12 of the last approved budget monthly to cover basic expenses.
The health sector's budget reached about 5.06% of the total government expenditure in the last approved budget in 2022, approximately equivalent to 1.36 billion US dollars.
For its part, the World Health Organization confirmed that the Libyan health sector suffers from poor funding and the absence of a clear, executable budget, due to ongoing political and economic divisions. With this limited funding, the country faces an escalating crisis in providing essential medications and treatments.
The Libyan Hospitals Union Organization revealed that many vital medications are almost running out in markets and hospitals, increasing the suffering of patients and threatening the collapse of the health system if the crisis continues without urgent solutions.
