<h2>Overview</h2> <p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="International Diabetes Federation — global organization representing diabetes associations, working to improve diabetes care and prevention worldwide (GS4: Ethics/Health)">International Diabetes Federation</span> (IDF) President‑elect <strong>Dr Niti Pall</strong> visited India and met Union Minister <strong>Dr Jitendra Singh</strong>, who also heads the Ministry of Science &amp; Technology’s health portfolio. The discussion centred on strengthening India’s capacity to produce <span class="key-term" data-definition="Biosimilar insulin — a biologic product highly similar to an existing insulin brand, offering comparable safety and efficacy at lower cost, crucial for affordable healthcare (GS3: Economy/Health)">biosimilar insulin</span> and related diabetes technologies such as <span class="key-term" data-definition="Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) — a device that provides real‑time glucose readings, reducing the need for finger‑prick tests and improving diabetes management (GS3: Economy/Health)">Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)</span> systems.</p> <h2>Key Developments</h2> <ul> <li>Both sides highlighted global concerns over the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Insulin supply chain — the global network of manufacturers, distributors and regulators that ensures availability of insulin, currently concentrated among few firms, making it vulnerable (GS3: Economy/Health)">insulin supply chain</span>, where a few multinational firms dominate and are shifting focus to newer <span class="key-term" data-definition="GLP‑1 drugs — a class of newer anti‑diabetic medicines that stimulate insulin secretion, currently attracting pharma focus and affecting insulin market dynamics (GS3: Economy/Health)">GLP‑1 drugs</span>.</li> <li>The Ministry of Biotechnology, through the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Department of Biotechnology (DBT) — a Ministry of Science &amp; Technology body that formulates policies and funds research in biotechnology, including medical biomanufacturing (GS3: Science &amp; Technology)">Department of Biotechnology</span>, is supporting an Indian firm to scale up insulin manufacturing capacity.</li> <li>India’s existing strength in generic pharmaceuticals and medical devices was acknowledged, but a critical gap in domestic insulin production was identified.</li> <li>Potential collaboration avenues were proposed, including joint clinical trials, technology transfer, and financing models involving Indian researchers and international partners.</li> <li>A stakeholder meeting is slated for the Minister’s next visit in July to chart a roadmap for scaling up production and export.</li> </ul> <h2>Important Facts</h2> <ul> <li>India bears one of the highest diabetes burdens globally, with an estimated 77 million diabetics (2024 data).</li> <li>Current global insulin manufacturers are limited to about six major companies, creating price and availability challeng