2021 marked the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of insulin. However, many people living with diabetes cannot access or afford insulin and the supplies needed to measure their blood glucose (glucometers, test strips, lancets, etc.) or safely administer insulin itself (needles and syringes). This inconsistent access to insulin, blood glucose testing supplies, and products needed for safe administration of medicines impedes diabetes self-care and can have devastating impacts. Diabetes CarePak aims to fill this gap through innovative human-centered design approaches by working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to ensure access to the supplies necessary for daily self-management of diabetes in LMICs. This project was launched by PATH in partnership with the Coalition for Access to NCD Medicines and Products (Coalition).

IFPMA, a member of the Coalition, provided seed funding to initiate the project landscaping in Kenya and Vietnam in 2021. The following year, work continued in Kenya in collaboration with support from Novo Nordisk, and expanded to four additional countries. In partnership with the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the CarePak project launched in Mali, Mozambique, and Tanzania, while a partnership with Sanofi initiated work in Uganda. Work was further advanced in Kenya with investment from Novo Nordisk. The government of Kenya and Uganda as well as Helmsley Charitable Trust, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi are also Coalition members collaborating to further this work supported by several members of the Coalition Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee including Prof. Jean Claude Mbanya and Dr. Kaushik Ramaiya who sit on the CarePak Technical Advisory Committee.

This multi-country approach will refine the CarePak product, expand access, and potentially allow for cost efficiencies. PATH teams are adapting the CarePak design to the needs of each country and exploring market introduction options to make the CarePak available under universal health coverage as well as in the public and private sectors. Testing the CarePak in these five countries will generate further evidence to support uptake in other settings, leading to improved health outcomes for a larger population. The prototype CarePak includes items such as glucometers, test strips, needles/syringes (if applicable), lancets, alcohol swabs, a sharps container, a diary to monitor glucose levels over time, and educational materials. There are starter and refill kits designed to include one month of consumable supplies. The project also trains health care workers and disseminates education materials with the kits to support improved diabetes management.