After successful Ukraine Campaign, PDA launches Medicines to Gaza

The Medicines to Gaza campaign will be led by the Jordanian Pharmacists’ Association

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has partnered with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and several national pharmacy leadership organisations from four different global regions to launch a humanitarian relief campaign called ‘Medicines to Gaza’.

Building on the success of the 'Medicines to Ukraine' campaign, which raised over £4.5 million in collaboration with European pharmacy organisations, the PDA is now extending its humanitarian efforts to support those in need in Gaza.

Mark Koziol, PDA chair, said: “I am enormously proud that we have been able to persuade FIP and the national pharmacy leadership organisations from across four different regions of the world to join this important initiative and this is just the start.

“This gives significant capacity for our profession to work together to bring humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.”

The PDA’s ‘Medicines To’ campaign was endorsed by FIP at its annual conference last year, where South Africa became the first country to officially sign up. Since then, 12 countries have pledged their participation.

The campaign aims to provide pharmacy support during humanitarian crises worldwide.

“There are a lot of bad things happening in the world, and today is an opportunity for pharmacists to do something good,” said Koziol as he introduced the campaign to the audience.

During the official launch of the initiative, Paul Sinclair, the President of FIP, announced the Medicines to Africa campaign will be led by the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa and the Medicines to Gaza campaign by the Jordanian Pharmacists’ Association.

“This project has been made possible through the valuable partnership and collaboration of the Pharmacists without Borders and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association,” Sinclair said.

The national pharmacy organisations that have agreed to support the PDA in its Medicines to Gaza campaign include The Egyptian Organisation for Pharmacy, The Jordanian Pharmacists’ Association, The Malaysian Pharmacists’ Society, The Medicines to Africa Campaign – South Africa and the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon.

In the coming weeks, the PDA plans to put up 'Medicines to Gaza' campaign posters in pharmacy windows and other locations in the UK, appealing for public donations.

The national pharmacy organisations that have agreed to support the Medicines To Africa campaign included The Egyptian Organisation for Pharmacy, Medicines To Africa – South Africa, The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, The Pharmaceutical Society of Malawi, The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, The Pharmaceutical Society of Tanzania and the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe.