SOCIETY

1st Leg

One person's story and experiences can become the catalyst that activates many others. Through the project "Opening access to medicine and health for all" implemented within the framework of the Active Citizens Fund program, all those reasons why the donation of medicines is important have already been highlighted. The proof of all these reasons, however, are the people who completed a donation or the people who benefited from it and share their story with us.

With the aim of making their voices heard, the project partners (GTC, GIVMED, TPP) created the advocacy campaign "Every Donation Is a Story", presenting stories of donors and beneficiaries of the project.

With the slogan "Make Your Own History." #DonateDrugs", the aim of the campaign is to highlight the value of donating medicines and to invite people to make their own history by donating the medicines they don't need.

This message is particularly relevant in the era of the pandemic, which demonstrated, among other things, the gaps and weaknesses of the pharmaceutical industry to respond in a short period of time to global demand. The donation of medicines can make a key contribution to dealing with seasonal shortages, but above all to support our fellow human beings who face problems with access to medicines and, by extension, Health.

To make your own story, the process is very simple. You can enter the map with the donation points, find the nearest social pharmacy and deliver the medicines. Alternatively, for more information, call 210 300 7222.

"Many people waited to get medicine, while no one else stopped to donate," said John, a medicine donor (here is his full story).

"It used to be difficult to find the medicines I needed. With the social pharmacy I have been saved", Michalis told us who received medicines through a donation (here is his whole story).

"Beyond medicines, the Social Pharmacy cares for people. It saves lives," Aspasia told us, who also received donated medicines (her whole story here).

"Help as much as you can, support as much as you can. It's luck to have something that no one else can," said Mrs. Papadimitriou, a medicine donor (her whole story here).

2nd Leg

Drug donation is a practice with significant benefits for society, the environment and the economy, with community pharmacies playing an important role at all stages of the process. However, these benefits may not be clear to everyone and this is precisely what prevents many of us from forming a clear opinion, taking a stand and supporting the donation of medicines.

Through the project "Opening Access to Health and Medicines for All" which is implemented within the framework of the Active citizens fund program, this campaign is carried out. With the aim of motivating and informing the general public, the project partners (GC, GIVMED, TPP) are given the opportunity to answer three basic questions:

Why do community pharmacies and drug donation to them exist?

How does the operation of community pharmacies and the donation of medicines contribute to society, the environment and the economy?

What can each of us do to strengthen community pharmacies and drug donation?

With the motto "Take a stand! Say "YES" to donating medicine." six brief videos were created that give the answers to the three questions above. In fact, through the videos each one of us is given the opportunity to express his opinion by answering a few short questions.

Why do community pharmacies and drug donation to them exist?

1. Why 34,000,000 boxes of medicine every year in Greece, expire and are thrown away unused.
2. Because 1,900,000 of our fellow human beings live below the poverty line.
3. Because the 130 social pharmacies that exist in Greece have significant needs for medicines.

How does the operation of community pharmacies and the donation of medicines contribute to society, the environment and the economy?

1. Through the donation of medicines, public health costs are reduced.
2. By donating medicines, pharmaceutical pollution of the environment is reduced.
3. 30,000 people consistently meet their drug needs through donations.

Watch the videos here.