Economic Downturn Elicits Stimulus Packages from BD and Lilly

The ongoing economic downturn has left millions of people with diabetes across the globe without jobs and, especially in America, without health insurance. Syringe and pen needle maker Becton, Dickinson and Company said recently that as many as 400,000 of these unemployed Americans may have diabetes. In response, amazingly, BD pledged to donate five million insulin syringes and pen needles through Direct Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian medical relief organization, to over 1,000 community health centers and free clinic partners nationwide. This announcement follows Eli Lilly’s decision to broaden income eligibility for their patient assistance programs from qualifying income at or less than 200 percent to at or less than 300 percent of the US Federal Poverty Level (i.e., $44,000 or less for a family of two). We commend BD and Eli Lilly for their commitment to patients – and send many thanks on behalf of diaTribe writers and readers. BD products will be available at participating clinics beginning August 10, 2009. The company has set up a website.