Islamabad: Amid the growing instability in Pakistan, healthcare providers are increasingly concerned about the continuity of care for children with Type 1 diabetes, as regional conflict and economic challenges threaten crucial insulin supply chains.

According to Relief Web, Meethi Zindagi, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with diabetes in Pakistan, faces significant challenges in maintaining its Insulin Support Program. The organization, which collaborates with the Indus Hospital and Health Network, provides essential insulin supplies to over 1,200 children across 140 cities. However, recent cross-border tensions and economic instability have exacerbated the difficulties in ensuring consistent access to insulin and other resources.

Dr. Sana Ajmal, the founder of Meethi Zindagi, highlighted the moral pressure of balancing the need to save lives with the responsibility to maintain insulin supplies for those already in the program. Economic changes, such as rising fuel prices, further complicate the situation, affecting transportation and accessibility to basic goods, including medicines.

Dr. Sumerah Jabeen of Indus University Hospital echoed these concerns, noting the dependency of patients on uninterrupted insulin access. The hospital network has been expanding its diabetes services under the leadership of Dr. Abdul Basit, yet the looming instability poses a risk to these efforts.

The ongoing instability has also led to a decline in donations, traditionally bolstered during Ramadan, leaving Meethi Zindagi in a precarious financial position. Dr. Ajmal warned that if this trend continues, the organization might be forced to reduce its services significantly, affecting hundreds of children dependent on their support.

As Pakistan grapples with these challenges, Meethi Zindagi and other healthcare providers are actively monitoring the situation, striving to ensure at least a month’s supply of insulin for every child under their care, even as uncertainty looms over future operations.