Mazhilis deputy Guldara Nurumova reported that Kazakhstan purchased a Chinese insulin product that has not undergone clinical trials instead of European insulin.
According to vlast.kz, Deputy Nurumova emphasised that there is no significant difference in price between the Chinese product and European insulin.
"Only two countries in the world have purchased it – Kazakhstan and a Latin American country. Its effectiveness is still unknown; it has not yet undergone clinical trials. Doctors and patients are outraged. This is about the health of our citizens. Why can't a high-quality European drug be purchased?" - Nurumova wondered.
She stated that European insulin was registered in Kazakhstan in 2014. According to her, this is the only drug indicated for children from the age of one.
Last year it was included in the guaranteed volume of free medical care, but for some reason patients still are not receiving it. Guldara Nurumova also noted that the registration of new drugs in the country takes a long time – from 5 to 7 years.
In turn, the Minister of Health, Akmaral Alnazarova, said she was aware of the Chinese insulin. She stated that the Ministry of Health is monitoring its use.
"No side effects have been reported. The first batch was purchased last year. During the year, there were no complaints from the public. Meanwhile, children continue to use the insulin they used previously," - she reported.
Furthermore, the Minister said that the Ministry of Health is considering solutions to the problem of the duration and procedure for registering medicines. However, later in the corridors, Alnazarova stated that unregistered drugs and those that have not undergone clinical trials are not brought into Kazakhstan.
"This insulin has generally passed registration here in the National Centre for Expertise of Medicines for quality purposes, so you cannot say that. The other issue is that patients are very sceptical about the supplier and the manufacturing plant in general. But in principle, it has all the necessary documents," - the Minister declared.
At the same time, she reported that an inspection is currently underway at "SK-Pharmacy" and the "National Centre for Expertise of Medicines", which will determine who lobbied for the import of the Chinese product.