£200,000 of essential medicines sent to Pakistan for use in clinics and operating theatres in Kashmir.

Over the past few days the first shipments of medical supplies donated by companies across the UK industry have arrived in Kashmir. Amongst these are 200,000 doses of pethidine; 100,000 doses of adrenaline, and 100,000 vials of water for use in the operating theatres in the disaster areas in Pakistan. These donations, with a wholesale value in excess of £200,000, were provided by Antigen International Ltd a subsidiary of Goldshield Group plc. Goldshield Pharmaceuticals Ltd has also sent 1500 packs of antibiotics to the emergency teams.

Anthony Dunnett, President of International Health Partners, said: “One of the greatest needs at the present in Pakistan is for the essential supplies to treat those who have been injured by the recent earthquake. Surgical medicines were at the top of the WHO’s list. The donated medicines from Goldshield met the specific requested needs of those operating in the field and will undoubtedly save thousands of lives. This donation represents the result of effective partnership working between Goldshield, IHP, the WHO, Islamic Relief and World Jewish Relief. All the parties had a particular part to play to enable life-giving medicines to reach those in need … all within a few days.”

Dr Zafar Mirzar, Essential Medicines Advisor of the WHO in Islamabad added “Having the right products at the right time is an absolute necessity. We are very thankful to UK donors, especially Goldshield, for sending us these medicines in our time of need. The pethidine arrived within a week of the earthquake and has replenished the supplies we are exhausting quickly. Your quick response to send us these supplies will save lives and allow immediate treatment for many others”.

Mike Reardon, Executive Director of Goldshield Group plc commented: “In times of need such as this and the tsunami last year, the pharmaceutical industry is always inundated with requests to help and is always more than happy to do so provided it can get some assurance that products donated do get to the place they are needed. Goldshield was certainly pleased it could help patients in need and is thankful to its employees, partner companies in distribution and freight forwarding, the Department of Health in Ireland, as well as the other organisations involved to ensure the shipment went out and was received in Kashmir without delay.”

The donations were provided to IHP who are coordinating all the donations of medicines for Pakistan from companies across the UK. IHP is in daily contact with the emergency coordinating teams of the World Health Organisation and the Pakistan Ministry of Health to help meet the needs for the medicines that are required. With logistics at full stretch, it is essential that donors only send the medicines that are needed and specifically requested. Coordinating donated medicines through one entity in the UK ensures that medicines are not wasted and that only what is needed is provided.

IHP is operating in partnership with Islamic Relief in Pakistan as its Distribution Partner. Islamic Relief is working closely with the WHO to ensure that donations are quickly cleared through customs and are distributed to those most in need as quickly as possible. Islamic Relief's emergency teams in Pakistan are running clinics and supporting emergency medical teams in the affected areas as well as assisting IHP in ensuring safe and efficient distribution of donated medicines.

To date £1.7million of medicines have been offered to IHP by 29 companies from across the UK. These have been offered to meet the specific list of needs issued by the disaster relief coordinators (available here) and have been accepted for donation and shipment to Pakistan by the WHO and Ministry of Health in Pakistan.

IHP is a UK registered charity that provided medicines, vaccines and medical supplies, donated by the UK’s healthcare industry, to British medical professionals and non governmental organisations working in the developing world. These supplies are provided where they are needed and requested in areas facing humanitarian crises as a result of poverty, conflict or disaster. World Jewish Relief, Islamic Relief and the Department of International Development are supporting IHP to meet the costs incurred in sourcing, handling and shipping the requested and required medical donations to Pakistan.

IHP fully endorse the WHO’s Guidelines for Drug Donations and pledges that it will only distribute first quality medical aid that can be used before its expiry date. IHP is committed to providing only what is needed to the people who most need it.

Media Contact: Jenina Bas + 44 (0) 7971 551 778 / jbas@pendrywhite.com