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Two major representative bodies from the UK pharmacy sector have teamed up to ask members to support a humanitarian campaign seeking to deliver specialist medicines to the Gaza Strip.

The National Pharmacy Association and Pharmacists’ Defence Association have written to independent pharmacy employers and pharmacists urging them to display posters highlighting the Medicines to Gaza initiative. 

The initiative, launched in September 2024 as a successor of the Medicines to Ukraine campaign, is collecting funds in order to prepare to send drugs that are either in low supply or completely unavailable into the region “as soon as it becomes safe to do so”, said Mark Koziol and Henry Gregg, chairman and chief executive of the PDA and NPA respectively.  

The organisations have issued a poster that can be downloaded online and will also be published as an A3 printout in the August editions of Pharmacy Magazine and Independent Community Pharmacist.

They have invited pharmacies to place this poster where it will be visible to patients – such as in the window in order to promote public engagement and encourage donations, as well as explaining the role pharmacists are playing that medicines “are not normal items of commerce”.  

The NPA and PDA urged the public to contribute to the campaign, which is co-ordinated by pharmacists and is in regular contact with the World Health Organization concerning the drugs most needed in the war-torn region, rather than attempt to send medicines in the post themselves.

They said: “As we have learnt from the other campaigns that we have supported, members of the public sometimes try generously to support people in crisis by sending boxes containing medicines to border areas. 

“This is neither safe nor effective as medicines sent in this way can rarely be used.” 

All funds are “handled exclusively by regulated charities” and the operations run by pharmacists, with global donations combined into and central location and then used to buy and deliver medicines based on live WHO data concerning those drugs that are “desperately needed” in war-torn Gaza, the organisations told their members.  

‘This is what we do’

Speaking to Pharmacy Magazine, Mark Koziol said: “As pharmacists we care for the medicines related needs of fellow human beings. This is our vocation and this after all is what we do. It matters not whether we look after those who walk into our pharmacies or are on our wards here in the UK or if they happen to be halfway around the world and are unfortunate enough to be living in a dangerous humanitarian crisis zone. When we have an opportunity to demonstrate our compassion to those in need we should do so.

“The scheme established by the PDA has enabled thousands of pharmacists in many countries around the world to encourage members of the public to donate funds and in doing so they facilitate the procurement and supply of medicines to those who desperately need their help.

“A community pharmacy or a hospital or GP practice waiting room, these are some of the places most visited by members of the public, so we appeal to pharmacists and ask that they display the poster that we have provided in a place where it can be seen by many.”

Henry Gregg added: “The NPA is pleased to support the Medicines to Gaza initiative by sharing this appeal with our members, should they wish to take practical action to help people caught up in this overwhelming tragedy.

“As an organisation committed to supporting pharmacies, the NPA is very happy to back humanitarian efforts relating to the orderly distribution of medicines to people in need around the world.  This is something practical that pharmacists can do to support people facing humanitarian crises.”