Roche Diabetes Care announces support during COVID-19 pandemic

A major diabetes technology company has announced measures to be implemented across the UK and Ireland to support people with diabetes and the health system amid the current COVID-19 crisis.

In a bid to mitigate pressures on hospitals and clinicians Roche Diabetes Care has extended all warranties for Accu-Chek Combo and Accu-Chek Insight insulin pumps that were due to expire before the end of June will be extended, initially for three months.

The company has recognised that for people who are approaching the end of their insulin pump warranties, choices about new insulin pumps are often made at group sessions and pump starts are often also undertaken in groups. But with the extended warranty, this will free up healthcare professionals.

Over the last few days there has been unprecedented demand through the insulin pump care line for consumables and so a restriction of one months supply per person has been put in place.

The Roche group is operating at the forefront of the response to the global coronavirus pandemic with its diagnostics division having recently announced FDA approval of a new COVID-19 testing device.

Roche is following government advice that staff should work from home wherever possible, and the company is confident that with strong business continuity plans in place there will be no interruption to product supply or to the customer service for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

Speaking to The Diabetes Times, Michael Goetzl, Managing Director of Roche Diabetes Care in the UK & Ireland, said: “Being able to prioritise supporting people with diabetes above all other considerations in moments like this is why I chose to work at Roche. It inspires me and my colleagues that we can do something extra in these extraordinary times.”