AIIMS Delhi Starts Offering Free Insulin Services to Mark World Diabetes Day

According to this initiative, free insulin vials will be provided to all patients who are prescribed insulin at any of the outpatient departments (OPDs) at the institute along with the patients who are admitted as well as visiting the OPD for consultation.

On World Diabetes Day, AIIMS Delhi launched a free insulin distribution service for poor patients suffering from diabetes.

According to this initiative, free insulin vials will be provided to all patients who are prescribed insulin at any of the outpatient departments (OPDs) at the institute along with the patients who are admitted as well as visiting the OPD for consultation.

In alignment with this objective, AIIMS has opened two new counters in the national capital. These distribution counters will work from 9 am to 5 pm every day.

However, for patients who are likely to travel long distances, ice packs will be provided to safely carry insulin vials at the recommended temperature to their place of residence along with written consultations and suggestions in Hindi and English.

Reportedly, at the first instance, the insulin vials will be issued for one month, which later may be increased to 2-3 months of the treatment process in the future.

Sharing his views, Dr Nikhil Tandon, professor and HOD, Endocrinology, AIIMS Delhi, said, “The decision has been taken in the context of the WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines which have identified five core national targets for UN member states aimed at reducing diabetes risk and ensuring that people with diabetes have equitable access to comprehensive and affordable care and prevention. One of its targets was that each person with Type 1 diabetes has continuous access to insulin under the Healthy People 2030 campaign.”

World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 each year to create awareness about risk factors for diabetes, a healthy lifestyle, and the need for early detection. To mark the occasion, several awareness camps and population screening for common non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, are organised by various institutions both public and private.

Founded in 1956, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi was established by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. It operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. As an Institute of National Importance, AIIMS Delhi aims to provide high-quality medical education and healthcare services. It also provides a wide range of healthcare services, including diagnostic tests and treatments.

Days back, AIIMS Delhi launched free rapid cardiac service for thalassemia patients. This service, which assesses the amount of iron deposition in the cardiac muscle, can be completed in just eight minutes, transforming how thalassemia patients are screened and monitored.