Essential medicines airlifted to Sri Lanka and Maldives - January 2005

In the first coordinated industry donation of medical supplies for disaster relief in the UK, International Health Partners, the charity coordinating donations of medical supplies from the UK healthcare industry for WHO, UN and Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) relief programmes in the tsunami affected countries, is today sending a shipment of £1.5 million essential medicines to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. The shipment was put together by IHP on behalf of the Government and the UK pharmaceuticals industry, based on the requirements of on-site emergency teams run by the WHO and the national ministries of health in Colombo and Male.

Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development, said: “I greatly welcome this initiative from the UK's pharmaceutical and medical supplies industries. These medicines and supplies will help the medical teams on the ground and, by having International Health Partners liaising closely with these teams, we can ensure that what is needed gets delivered. The Department for International Development is happy to support this initiative.”

Eight companies were involved in the £1.5 million airlift to Sri Lanka and the Maldives – CD Medical (Lancashire), Genus Pharmaceuticals (Surrey), IVAX (London), Keyline Brands (Berkshire), Lilly UK (Hampshire), Medex Medical (Lancashire), Wyeth Consumer Healthcare (Ireland), and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (Hampshire).

The 65 pallets of essential medicines being airlifted are sufficient to treat over 75,000 men, women and children. IHP president Anthony Dunnett said: “By sourcing products as requested by the emergency teams, we have been able to turn every £1 of aid into over £20 of medicines and supplies delivered to the hospitals and clinics in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. I would like to thank those companies that have donated so generously, and look forward to working with them in meeting the medical needs of tsunami victims, who will need our support for months and years to come.”

This is the first time a coordinated industry donation of medical supplies for disaster relief has been organised in the UK, facilitating a practical partnership between Governments, industry, NGOs and the WHO’s international relief teams on the ground. In addition to the pharmaceutical company donors, shipping and handling costs have been met with contributions from World Jewish Relief, two other charitable foundations, a Sri Lankan business, and a promise of funding support from DfID. The freight forwarding agents Speed International and Durbin, the shipping insurance agent ADS Insurance Services, and Sri Lanka Airlines have all provided deeply discounted rates and/or donated their services.

Andrew Curl, Deputy Director General of the ABPI said: “Many individual pharmaceutical companies have already responded to the crisis with their own substantial donations, whether in cash or by providing medicines. It is my hope that this shipment of much-needed medical supplies will provide a very practical and effective aid to the men, women and children caught up in this dreadful crisis. I would like to encourage any other companies considering donations to contact the IHP."

The approach of sourcing specifically requested product donations delivers excellent value for money for both the tax payer and donor, releasing valuable Government grants and public donations from having to be spent on purchasing the required medicines and medical supplies.

Responding on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government, High Commissioner Faisz Mustapha said: “These industry donations of antibiotics, pain killers, vitamins, and antiseptics will save many lives. Such a coordinated and timely airlift of precisely the medical supplies we require has only been possible because IHP acts as a ‘one stop shop’ for UK industry donations.”

High Commissioner Hassan Sobir, speaking on behalf of the Government of the Maldives, commented: “The tsunami has destroyed a large number of the hospitals and clinics in our small country. This donation of medical supplies will go a long way to re-supply and equip these centres. Heartfelt thanks go to British industry and IHP from our people.”