Over 80 years after the discovery of insulin, access to it is still problematic for people in many parts of the developing world. In February 2001, at a meeting between the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), a call was made for the establishment of a non-governmental organization to improve the sustainable, affordable and uninterrupted supply of quality insulin for people with Type 1 diabetes in areas of need. In response to this call, the International Insulin Foundation (IIF) was established by leading academics and physicians in the field of diabetes. In this article, David Beran reports on the actions of IIF to overcome the barriers to diabetes care in developing countries.
International Insulin Foundation, IIF, RAP, Rapid Assessment Protocols, RAPIA, Rapid Assessment Protocol for Insulin Access, Zambia, Mozambique, insulin