The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, as a member organisation of the International Pharmaceutical Federation, is adding its voice to that of FIP, and calling for all parties involved in the Gaza - Israel conflict to adhere to humanitarian law and protect the lives of entirely innocent civilians and healthcare workers.
We call for an immediate halt to any actions that risk the lives of civilians or health workers and denounce all instances of violence or warfare that cause suffering.
Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and in times of conflict, becomes even more critical. Civilians must have unrestricted access to essential medical services and medicines. Healthcare workers, including pharmacists who are at the forefront of providing care and support, should be able to provide their services without fear or violence. Any attack on health workers and the patients they serve is deplorable.
We strongly urge all parties involved to respect the neutrality of healthcare workers and ensure healthcare facilities such as hospitals are protected. There must be unrestricted access to medical supplies so that both the lives of healthcare workers who dedicate themselves to saving lives and civilians who are in need, are safeguarded.
Our thoughts are with the civilians and healthcare workers who have lost loved ones during these events. We call for peace and the protection of healthcare access and healthcare workers to end the suffering of innocent civilians.
The pharmacy workforce is very diverse and we urge everyone to be considerate in their behaviour as in times of conflict, discrimination or harassment can intensify. The workplace should be a safe place and no-one should have to experience abuse from colleagues or from patients in the course of their daily activities.
RPS provides all refugee pharmacists fleeing war and conflict areas three years free membership to help them practise in Great Britain. Since 2014 we have offered support through the WHO initiative Research4Life which provides institutions in low-and middle-income countries with free or low cost online access to academic and professional peer-reviewed content.
Should you be interested in donating medicines, RPS advice is, from Chapter 3 section 3.7.8 of Medicines Ethic and Practice, to consider World Health Organisation guidance before doing this. The guidance is intended to improve the quality of medicine donations in international development assistance and emergency aid. Good medicine donation practice is of interest to both donors and recipients.
See our updated statement on this issue.