AN INITIATIVE BY AL ANSAAR TRUST
Nearly quarter of a people have no access to essential medicines—resulting in greater pain and suffering, prolonged illness, needless disabilities and preventable deaths (World Health Organization, 2017).
While access to medicines is part of the right to health, many individuals struggle to access medicines. Despite the importance of medicines in reducing morbidity and mortality, availability of affordable quality-assured medicines continues to be poor, especially in LIMGs (Low Income and Marginalised Groups).
For instance, when a poor person (could be a domestic help) is diagnosed diabetic, doctors prescribe medicines which have to be taken every day. But due to affordability and access issues, patients they take half the prescribed dose or do not take the pills at all. If Diabetes is left uncontrolled, after a few years of struggle the patients end up with severe issues like kidney failure, blindness, etc. and ultimately a sad and painful death.
No access could mean that medicines are unavailable, unaffordable, inaccessible, unacceptable or of low quality. Simply put, access to medicines implies that people have the right medicines of the right quality, at the right price, at the right place and at the right time.
Access to affordable, quality-assured essential medicines is crucial to reducing the financial burden of care and improving population health.
To address this issue of medicine accessibility, AL ANSAAR TRUST is starting it's own pharmacy.
It is a purely NOT FOR PROFIT entity. The aim is to make most essential medicines from reputed manufacturers upto 60% cheaper through bulk orders.
We will strive for
(1) Fairness in disbursal,
(2) Ensure affordability of essential medicines,
(3) Assure quality and safety of essential medicines,
(4) Creating awareness among the general public regarding proper use of medicines to maintain good quality of life.
Our goal is to make essential medicines more affordable (increase savings for the poor and needy) among chronically ill patients.
Any suggestions are most welcome.
Comments