Pharmacies around the world donate money, medicine to help Ukraine

Moved by the suffering of the war, pharmacists around the world have organized to send cash, medical supplies and other basics to displaced Ukrainians. In Canada, churches, stores, bakeries and even elementary school students have all collected money and supplies to send overseas, and pharmacies are also taking part. Lawlor Pharmasave in Toronto is one of them. It’s raising funds by accepting customer donations and contributing half of its front-shop profits for March. “I wasn’t sleeping when I saw the footage [of the war], so I wasn’t going to wait to act. We supported Syrian refugees in the past so we needed to support these folks too,” said owner and pharmacist Kyro Maseh. On his first day of fundraising, he raised $350. Canada is particularly connected to Ukraine, as we have the second-largest Ukrainian diaspora of any country in the world: 1.4 million Ukrainians call Canada home. Our organizations have sent cash, medical supplies—such as painkillers, bandages, syringes, disinfectant and IV lines—and basics, like clothing, diapers, baby formula and food. Overseas, many individual pharmacies across Europe were collecting donations and delivering them to places in Poland—where many Ukrainian refugees had fled—as well as to Ukraine itself. The U.K.’s national pharmacy bodies were also working to figure out how to get supplies to Ukrainians, and the best wholesalers to buy from. Read: Ukrainian pharmacies remain open despite Russian invasion Larger companies have also donated help: U.K. Drug wholesaler Phoenix is donating supplies directly, American wholesaler AmerisourceBergen Foundation donated $100,000, and Swiss biotech company Roche donated 150,000 packages of antibiotics. On March 1, pharmacy trade unions in Europe released a joint statement condemning the violence. “We condemn this violation of the integrity of Ukraine. War and occupation bring suffering for all people, for their families and their communities,” read the statement from the Employed Community Pharmacists in Europe. “We believe that in the 21st century the world’s population wants to live with lasting security, democracy, and respect for human rights. These are the only things that will provide long term peace and prosperity.” Read: 'Show this to Putin': Tearful doctors in last moments of a small girl mortally wounded in Russian shelling

Pharmacies around the world donate money, medicine to help Ukraine

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics