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Call on Abbott to Make Freestyle Libre Affordable in Egypt

Abbott Global and Regional Leadership

للتوقيع على هذه العريضة باللغة العربية، اضغط هنا

Diabetes is a lifelong chronic condition that demands continuous monitoring and management. For thousands of Egyptians living with diabetes, Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices such as the Freestyle Libre are critical, lifesaving tools. However, Abbott's recent excessive price hikes have placed an unbearable financial burden on people living with diabetes in Egypt, making essential health technology inaccessible to many. Immediate action is necessary to address this issue and ensure fair pricing and accessibility to the continuous glucose monitoring device: Freestyle Libre.

Prior to launching this public petition, we directly reached out to Abbott representatives in Egypt and the MENA region to express our concerns and explore solutions regarding pricing and availability. We left the conversation not only with no commitment to reduce prices or improve access, but also with no sense of hope that meaningful change would follow. Abbott representatives made no commitment to our demands, justifying their position by stating that the company adheres to a fixed international price of USD 68 for the Freestyle Libre.

We argue that Abbott has previously taken ethical action to support patients with chronic illnesses, such as adjusting prices for 40 low- and middle-income countries in 2007 by reducing the price of antiretroviral medication (Lopinavir/Ritonavir) due to urgent affordability needs. We now expect Abbott to demonstrate similar principled action towards the diabetes community in Egypt.

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to: Abbott Global and Regional Leadership: Robert B. Ford, Chairman and CEO; Chris J. Scoggins, Executive Vice President, Global Diabetes Care; Islam Jaber, Regional Managing Director, Middle East and Northeast Africa; Mohamed Kandil, Regional Director, Abbott

We urgently call for addressing the unaffordable pricing and lack of access to the Freestyle Libre Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system produced by Abbott in Egypt and across the MENA region. The initial price of the Freestyle Libre was already overwhelming for people living with diabetes. However, the dramatic price increase of over 200% in just the past two years (from 1,050 EGP in February 2023 to 3,350 EGP in January 2025) has significantly increased the financial burden, making the device inaccessible to thousands.

The current pricing remains unfeasible for people living with diabetes in Egypt. The monthly cost of Freestyle Libre sensors (covering 28 days) represents approximately 96% of the minimum monthly wage set for July 2025. This severe unaffordability has caused significant frustration within the diabetes community, compelling many individuals to stop using Freestyle Libre sensors.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are not a luxury but a necessity for diabetes management. They are increasingly recommended by global diabetes authorities, including the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and the International Diabetes Federation, as essential tools that enable real-time glucose tracking, reduce both hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, and support safer, more effective long-term diabetes management and self-care.

We urgently call on Abbott to:

1. Immediately Review and Adjust Prices: We call on Abbott to reassess their pricing strategy, considering the economic impact on end-users, especially children and those for whom continuous glucose monitoring is non-negotiable for diabetes management.

2. Direct Engagement with the Local Community: We urge Abbott to engage directly with healthcare providers, diabetes advocates, and the diabetes community to collaboratively identify sustainable pricing solutions sensitive to the socioeconomic realities of Egyptian patients.

3. Increase the Number of Distribution Channels for Freestyle Libre Sensors: Abbott currently offers only four branches across four governorates in Egypt (Cairo, Giza, Mansoura, and Alexandria), out of a total of 27 governorates. This limited coverage makes it difficult for many Egyptians to access the sensors, especially as they are not available in pharmacies. We call on Abbott to increase the number of distribution channels and make them available through pharmacies.

4. Establish an Urgent Plan for Regional Availability: Develop and implement an urgent strategy to ensure that the Freestyle Libre is consistently available across all Middle Eastern countries, as it is not officially distributed in several countries across the region.

Living with type 1 diabetes is already challenging enough. As an ethical responsibility towards our community, we expect Abbott to provide greater support to people living with diabetes in Egypt and across the MENA region. Diabetes management should never become a financial burden that jeopardises lives.

We demand immediate action from Abbott to ensure essential health technologies remain accessible and affordable to all.