Why become an NGO partner? Expand We asked NGO partners why they like working with us. They told us: We help them to respond to critical health needs in places where medicines and supplies are scarce or non-existent. We give them reassurance by supplying high-quality, safe medicines in settings where it's common to find false, counterfeit, or sub-standard medicines. We save them costs in their medicine budgets, which enables them to invest in other health-programme activities We provide logistical support, guidance and documentation to facilitate shipping
What kinds of NGOs and others do we partner with? Expand We partner with NGOs and individual healthcare professionals in three main areas: Emergency response Short-term trips to strengthen health systems Longer-term health programmes
Do NGO partners receive all donated products for free? Expand We ask our NGO partners to make a small contribution towards the costs of coordinating donations. This is currently £275 per pallet for medicines £125 per pallet for medical supplies £450 for an Essential Health Pack (800+ courses of treatment) As the average value of a single pallet is £19,000, these costs represent a small fraction of the value of products donated. Partners also pay for shipping costs and customs/import fees, including non-standard requirements for paperwork.
Do NGO partners have to meet certain criteria? Expand In accordance with our MHRA licence, we need to ensure that NGO partners have adequate facilities and the appropriate capacity to store, distribute and dispense donations. When we evaluate potential new partners, we ask them to complete an application form and undergo a process of due diligence.
How long do we partner with NGOs for? Expand Once we complete the due diligence process successfully, we will put in place a three-year partnership agreement. This enables us to support the NGO partner wherever it works. In turn, partners undertake to confirm the safe arrival of shipments and provide feedback on donations received, including reports on how they use donations.
Where do donated medicines and supplies come from? Expand Our healthcare partner network includes 100+ European pharmaceutical and medical supplies manufacturers. All donated products are licensed for use in the EU, and do not leave the supply chain or the regulated environment. Typically, products have one to three years’ shelf life. They remain in their original packaging and contain patient information leaflets (PIL) for safe use.
Can NGO partners ask for specific products? Expand Healthcare partners often approach us with donations we can offer to NGO partners. Frequently, too, our NGO partners will tell us what they need so that we can source specific medicines from our healthcare partners. We have also developed an online platform that enables us to offer and allocate donations.
How are donated products transported to NGO partners? Expand Some of our partners ask for logistical support, and to arrange shipping (by truck, sea or air, depending on circumstances). Other NGOs prefer to collect products from our warehouses and do their own shipping. We provide standard paperwork to support the import of donated medicines (a packing list and a “free of charge” invoice need to explain this?). However, some countries may require additional documentation.
Who else do we work with? Expand We have a strong network of healthcare industry donors and logistics providers. As a licensed wholesaler, we are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). We are also part of PQMD (the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations), and a signatory to the World Health Organization Guidelines for Medicine Donations and Red Cross Code of Conduct. To find out more about the work we do, click the following links: Disaster Response Health Programmes Essential Health Packs
Disaster and emergency response Expand We are part of the Integral Alliance, a network of 22 humanitarian NGOs who coordinate responses in the event of a disaster. When a situation occurs, we reach out to Integral members and others operating in the region to see how we can offer support. Recent responses have included sending medical aid to Haiti, Iraq and Yemen.
Longer term health programmes Expand We work with NGOs, national health ministries and UN agencies to deliver longer-term healthcare initiatives around the world. These range from broad primary healthcare projects to specific interventions in maternal health, non-communicable diseases, mental health and other areas. Programmes take place in diverse settings including hospitals, clinics and refugee camps.
Essential Health Packs for NGO partners Expand An Essential Health Pack (EHP) is a pre-packed kit, filled with a range of essential medicines, to support critical primary health care delivery in any setting. They are highly portable so that they can be transported to wherever they might be needed, and act as a mobile pharmacy. Each pack contains a broad assortment of over-the-counter and prescription medicines such as antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, anti-fungal and antiparasitics. Packs contain a minimum of 800 courses of treatments. The packs are most often used by primary health care programmes; by those responding to the first stage of a disaster; and by travelling medics.