Medicine for all - Features - Al-Ahram Weekly

Al-Ahram Weekly

2 days ago

Sharing surplus medications with patients in need is a step forward in addressing the challenges of drug shortages and soaring prices.
The idea began with a simple humanitarian act when someone approached Waleed Shawky, then a pharmacist, carrying a bag of medicines he no longer needed after his recovery and asked that they could be offered to someone in need.
Soon afterwards, another patient entered the pharmacy with a prescription and inquired about the cost of the medications. The total exceeded what the patient could afford, prompting him to leave without buying his medicine.
At that moment, Shawky recalled the donated bag, reviewed its contents, and discovered that five of the seven prescribed medications were in it. He immediately provided them to the patient free of charge, leaving only two medicines to be purchased. In this way, the donated medicines reached someone in genuine need, significantly reducing the cost of treatment.
From this modest incident, the idea of establishing the Al-Dawaa Lil-Gamei (Medicine for All Foundation) was born, inspired by the belief that 'the medicine you may no longer need could benefit someone else.'
As such acts of kindness became more frequent, Shawky recognised the need to transform these individual efforts into an organised foundation. He applied for its registration and obtained an official licence from the Ministry of Social Solidarity, said Yousra Elmonshed, executive secretary of the Medicine for All Foundation.
'Although the foundation began its work in 2013, its role has grown increasingly vital in helping to address the shortages of medicines and medical supplies that have affected the Egyptian market. This comes in addition to the rising prices of imported medications, driven by the widening gap between the US dollar and the Egyptian pound,' Elmonshed said.
The emergence of medicine shortages coincided with an announcement by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli, published on the cabinet website last September, stating that the government had succeeded in resolving the shortages of approximately 470 pharmaceutical products out of 580 that had previously been in short supply.
He also pointed to the production of more than 133 million packages of over 360 types of medicines and pharmaceutical products since last August to meet market needs and stated that Egypt produces 91 per cent of its pharmaceutical requirements domestically, in addition to pursuing plans to support exports, which have exceeded $1 billion.
However, alongside these government efforts, there remains an ongoing need for greater community participation to help provide medications for patients who cannot afford the cost of drugs.
According to Elmonshed, the foundation took its first steps from its branch in the Nasr City area of Cairo. Over time, it became known through word-of-mouth among local residents and neighbouring charitable associations without any organised advertising campaigns. More people began sending unused medications to its pharmacy.
'As the number of donors increased, a small group of volunteers assumed the responsibility of sorting the medicines and verifying their validity before dispensing them to patients. Gradually, the number of beneficiaries also grew, which led to the expansion of the team,' she said.
'At the beginning, the work was limited to a small number of volunteers, including medical doctors and pharmacists, due to the importance of having both medical and administrative supervision of the sorting and dispensing of medications. Over time, the initiative transformed from simple individual efforts into a more structured framework, and the foundation began hiring permanent staff.'
'With the expansion of its operations, the foundation grew to include branches in other governorates across the country, including Mansoura, Alexandria, Beni Sweif, Qanater, and others. Today, the Cairo branch alone has more than 45 employees who oversee all stages of work, from receiving and sorting the medications to dispensing them to patients,' she said.
SUPPORT: According to Elmonshed, the foundation's data indicates that it provides monthly support to nearly 6,500 patients, offering them medicines that meet their needs for the treatment of chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, endocrine disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and rheumatism.
The support is not limited to medications for chronic illnesses but also extends to providing high-cost treatments, including cancer medications.
'There are patients who require medications where the cost of a single package can reach LE80,000, such as some drugs used as alternatives to chemotherapy in tablet form. In such cases, the foundation collaborates with the pharmaceutical companies through each company's scientific office, whereby the company covers part of the cost, the foundation covers another portion through donations, and the patient contributes a share. Through this model, many patients are able to receive regular monthly treatment at a cost significantly lower than the actual market price,' Elmonshed said.
'But despite these efforts, there is still a waiting list of cases in need of medications that are either unavailable or very expensive. The foundation works to collect donations to purchase and provide these medicines for them.'
The foundation has three main departments, the Medication Collection and Transport Department, the Patient Support Department, and the Pharmacy Department. 'The first is responsible for receiving medications from donors and organising the collection process,' Elmonshed explained.
'Individuals who wish to donate surplus medications can submit a request in advance either by calling the foundation's hotline at 15963 or by reaching out through its social media platforms. Once the request is received, a representative visits the donor's home to collect the medications in a safe manner. There is no minimum quantity required because even a single blister pack can make a real difference for a patient who cannot afford to buy the medicine they need.'
'There is a second method for collecting medications, which involves donation boxes in pharmacies, clubs, and major shopping malls, such as Citystars in Nasr City. These boxes are securely designed to ensure the safety of the donated medicines and to prevent any attempts at tampering. When donors place their surplus medications in the boxes, the foundation's representatives collect them. Donors can also deliver their medications directly to the foundation's main branch or any of its other branches.'
'With regard to medications that require special storage conditions, such as refrigerated drugs, we adhere to strict safety standards and coordinate with donors in advance to ensure that the medicines have been properly stored in a refrigerator,' Elmonshed said.
'A representative of the foundation visits the donor carrying a specialised medical cooler to maintain the quality of the medication during transport, especially in the case of insulin and other medicines that require low temperatures.'
'Afterwards, the Pharmacy Department takes over, as it is responsible for managing the medicine stock in the foundation. Donated medications go through several meticulous stages before reaching patients, starting with the sorting phase handled by the pharmacy team. This carefully inspects each individual package to verify its integrity. In the case of tablet medications in blister strips, only sealed strips with remaining tablets are accepted. Liquid medicines such as syrups, drops, opened ointments, and opened tablet containers are not accepted to ensure patient safety.'
'Once the donated medicines are received, their validity is confirmed, and any expired items are discarded. If the tablets come from a partially used blister pack, the remaining sealed tablets are carefully cut out in a way that preserves the visible expiration date. Tablets of the same medication and dosage are then grouped together to form a complete package. After the medicines are prepared, the available items and shortages are recorded in the foundation's electronic system. It works on purchasing missing medicines using the financial donations it receives to ensure a continuous supply for patients.'
Elmonshed explained that the Patient Support Department manages both the administrative and medical aspects of each case. The process begins by opening a medical file that records the patient's health condition, social background, and medication history. Patients must submit required documents, including a national ID card, a recent medical report, an updated prescription, and an official statement from the Social Insurance Authority confirming insurance and employment status. For children, a birth certificate is also needed.
'The foundation only allows first-degree relatives to apply on behalf of patients who are unable to attend in person, such as children applying for their parents or vice versa, as well as spouses,' Elmonshed said.
'Once the documents are complete, the foundation's medical committee composed of physicians and pharmacists conducts a comprehensive evaluation. This includes reviewing the medical condition through lab tests, radiology results, and prescribed treatments, along with assessing the social and financial situation of the patient. Factors such as pensions or a lack of insurance are considered to determine the appropriate type of support, whether full exemption, partial assistance, or no support, ensuring that help reaches those who are financially unable to afford their medications,' she added.
'The medical committee holds its meetings weekly at scheduled times, and usually the patient receives an immediate response following the evaluation. In cases where support is approved, the medications are dispensed on the same day, and all the patient's data is entered into the foundation's electronic system, which records the details of the medical file, medication dispensing history, and any future updates related to the case.'
'Afterwards, patients receiving regular monthly treatment contact the foundation by phone to schedule an appointment to collect their medications. The team prepares the medications in the required doses according to the approved prescription for each case. In addition to dispensing monthly medications, the foundation also responds to urgent medical needs, such as providing relatively costly cold medications or antibiotics. If a financially vulnerable patient applies for such medicines, the foundation provides them as well.'
ACTIONS: In some cases, the foundation's role goes beyond providing monthly support or emergency medications to patients and also extends to responding to medicine shortages in the market.
According to Elmonshed, the foundation offers this service to all, whether they are permanent beneficiaries of its support or individuals who are financially able but facing difficulties in finding unavailable medicines at pharmacies.
'In such cases, patients or their families can contact the foundation to inquire about the availability of a required medication. If the medicine is available in quantities exceeding the needs of the foundation's supported patients, it is provided to the requester in exchange for a voluntary donation without setting a fixed amount, with the proceeds directed to help patients who are financially vulnerable,' she said.
'The effectiveness of this service has become especially evident in the light of the significant increase in medicine prices in recent times, which has not only doubled the suffering of patients but also impacted the volume of donations. Some people have started holding on to their surplus medications out of fear they might need them later amidst shortages of certain medicines, which has made it more challenging to provide medications to those in need,' Elmonshed explained.
'The foundation deals with patients from various backgrounds, but the elderly often represent the category most in need of medications, particularly pensioners whose limited incomes can no longer keep pace with the rising cost of medicines, especially in cases of chronic illnesses or long-term treatments. Among the groups that most frequently turn to the foundation are kidney patients and children with muscular atrophy, whose conditions require expensive medications their families cannot afford.'
'In addition to providing medications, we also offer medical supplies free of charge, as they may pose an additional financial burden on patients. The medical aids we provide include wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, back braces, and oxygen devices, whether cylinders or concentrators, among others,' she added.
Beyond medical supplies, the foundation has played an active role in delivering various healthcare services, as Waleed Shawky, chairman of the foundation, explained.
'Our work has not been limited to medications and supplies alone, as we have also launched several initiatives aimed at directly supporting patients. One such is the 'Al-Aziz Coupon', which is based on a simple concept of solidarity, allowing anyone to offer their neighbour or someone in need a coupon valid for purchasing medicine from a pharmacy, without making them feel they are in need. It is a model we are currently working on developing,' Shawky said.
'One of the important initiatives is 'Sponsor a Sick Child', a dedicated fund aimed at providing high-cost medications for children with muscular atrophy, especially since the medicines we receive in syrup form are often unsuitable for use. Therefore, it was essential to allocate a separate budget for purchasing them.'
'We also participate in field campaigns such as 'Door-to-Door', which aims at raising awareness about the Foundation and reaching the most vulnerable cases. Through these campaigns, we gather data on the cases and verify their medical and social conditions to provide them with the appropriate medication.'
'The role of the foundation became particularly prominent during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the country faced a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies. The foundation was among the first entities to provide support. We supplied oxygen concentrators for home use by Covid-19 patients, in addition to providing masks, gloves, sanitisers, and protective clothing for medical teams,' Shawky said.
'Due to the acute shortage of these supplies at the time, we undertook their manufacture and distributed them free of charge to government hospitals. Around the clock, we worked to secure the needs of patients, including medicines, oxygen cylinders, and everything required for home treatment.'
'Our collaborations with universities and syndicates helped us greatly. We partnered with the faculties of medicine and pharmacy at both public and private universities to train students on handling medications, classifying them, and preparing prescriptions. We also organised medical convoys in partnership with these institutions and placed medicine collection boxes on university campuses to promote the culture of donation among young people.'
'Through our activities in universities and on various platforms, we have been able to recruit a large number of volunteers who have played a major role in raising awareness about the foundation. With their help, we have conducted awareness lectures in clubs, companies, and public places on the safe use of medications and proper storage methods at home, with the aim of reducing waste and misuse.'
'The volunteers have also played a vital role within the foundation, particularly during the summer months. We rely on them to collect and deliver medications to patients. Each volunteer works within their own geographical area, which helps reduce the logistical burden on us,' he said.
'We started with a team of no more than two people, and today we work with 95 employees spread across the foundation's various branches. This expansion would not have been possible without the support and trust of the people. We still dream of expanding to every governorate and hope that the state will support us in scaling up this system nationwide.'
* A version of this article appears in print in the 24 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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