Union Minister Jitendra Singh met Niti Pall, who said that Asian and African nations are increasingly turning to India for affordable diabetes care solutions, citing its leadership in providing cost-effective vaccines, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
Dr Singh and Dr Pall discussed indigenous biosimilar insulin production and diabetes-related indigenous biomanufacturing prospects, the Ministry of Earth Sciences said in a statement.
She pointed out that high insulin prices in many regions continue to limit access, reinforcing the need for alternative manufacturing hubs capable of delivering quality products at lower cost.
“The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening India’s capabilities in insulin manufacturing, particularly biosimilar insulins and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) instruments,” the statement said, noting global concerns about future insulin availability.
Dr Pall flagged the risk of supply constraints as major multinational manufacturers increasingly shift their focus towards newer therapies such as GLP-1 drugs.
She noted that insulin production globally is currently concentrated among a few companies, creating supply chain and affordability challenges, especially for Type 1 diabetes patients dependent on lifelong insulin therapy.
Against this backdrop, biosimilar insulin — highly similar versions of existing insulin therapies — emerged as a key area of focus as a lower-cost alternative while maintaining safety and efficacy.
Dr Singh acknowledged India’s pharmaceutical strengths but said domestic insulin manufacturing remains relatively limited.
The minister informed that the Department of Biotechnology is already supporting efforts to enhance insulin production capacity, mentioning recent steps to scale up manufacturing by an Indian company.
They discussed the potential for deeper collaboration involving Indian researchers, industry stakeholders and international partners in areas such as clinical trials, technology development and financing models.
Dr Pall noted the rapid expansion of low-cost devices from countries such as China, with significant price advantages over Western products, and cautioned that these manufacturers are already capturing substantial market share.
Dr Singh observed that Indian companies possess the technological capability to develop comparable devices, including CGMs, and stressed that scaling up production would require stronger industry participation and targeted support.
With Inputs From IANS
