Globally, over half a billion people are living with diabetes, with three out of four residing in lower and middle-income countries (LMICs). By 2050, this number is expected to exceed one billion, with the largest increase anticipated in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa alone, there are just over 4 million people with diabetes. Recently, the government has had to inform healthcare facilities that some patients might need to switch back to insulin vials and syringes because no company has continued supplying human insulin pens in South Africa. Over the past three years, the government procured 14 million human insulin pens and received no prior notice from the previous supplier, Novo Nordisk, about the cessation of supply. This situation poses risks to diabetes patients in South Africa , whislt human insulin pens are still being supplied to patients in high-income countries (HICs). Additionally, more profitable medicines in pen form (such as GLP-1s like Wegovy) are being sold by Novo at an unprecedented rate in HICs, potentially diverting manufacturing capacity for pens to maximize profits at the expense of diabetes patients in South Africa.

In late September 2024 Novo Nordisk announced that it will halt the production of human insulin* pens, because of a supply constraint with pen devices, but that it will scale up production of human insulin in vials that people then have to inject with syringes.

This move will allow the corporation to produce and sell more of their patented GLP-1 medicine for diabetes and obesity (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy) in pen devices at high prices in high-income countries. Leaving patients in LMIC's using outdated methods of delivery rarely seen in the HLMIC countries where Novo will also be selling Ozempic and Wegovy.