Pharmacists without Borders Germany: 10 years of cooperation between with St. Bernard Health Centre in Hanga, Tanzania

Irene Markert, Pharmacist and Project coordinator, PSF Germany

Pharmacists without Borders’ aim is to deliver long-term and sustainable improvements for local people in developing countries. It supports local and international partners by providing high-quality medicines, organising appropriate drug storage and training local staff and people. Pharmacists without Borders also has deep expertise in the provision of emergency relief following natural disasters, minimises acute drug shortages through speedy drug supplies, and therewith alleviate the suffering of the affected population.

It is a registered charity counting more than 2,000 members and is not only active in developing countries, but also through projects in Germany supporting refugees and homeless people. All volunteers who are working for the NGO are well prepared and trained in depth for the variety of tasks they face during their front-line work.

PSF joined EPN in the year 2012 and has since shared information and knowledge with its partners, especially based on the curriculum “Essentials of Pharmacy Practice”.

Since 2007 Pharmacists without Borders supports the Health Centre St. Bernard in Hanga in the South of Tanzania. The Health Centre is growing constantly: more and more people of the surrounding area visit to receive medical treatment. The distance to the next city Songea, which is around 40 km from Hanga, is too far away for many people who don’t have access to transportation. The Health Centre provides a contact point for patients who cannot afford regular treatment. In 2015, an operation room was established and becoming mothers especially benefit from this facility as it is now used regularly for emergency C-sections.

For the growing number of patients, the demand of high-quality and safe medicines is increasing. The Health Centre provides medication not only for acute infectious diseases but also for permanent treatment of chronic conditions. Pharmacists without borders supports the purchase of drugs and medical products by working with its partner “Action Medeor“ who is also an EPN member and established a branch in Tanzania in 2005. To avoid the entry of counterfeit and substandard medicines, the supply chain is supervised by professional pharmaceutical staff through regular quality audits.

The precise numbers of the monthly needed drugs are calculated by the trained pharmaceutical and medical staff. Through regular visits to Hanga with volunteering members, PSF ensures next to open communication a regular training with the local staff. The training includes proper storage, management of medicines and other medical products, monthly inventory and documentation, medication safety by identifying substandard and counterfeit medication and quality management to ensure the supply of high-quality medicines for the Health Centre and its patients

Training of local pharmaceutical and medical staff

The current situation caused by the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic prohibits current visits of PSF operators into the project. To maintain constant contact and a flow of information, online conferences are established and training via video calls with the local staff is made possible. The pandemic is causing big challenges for the Health Centre as many drugs and medical products are not available. Emergency orders are placed in local pharmacies but many medicines are not in stock in the needed quantities and the safety and quality of the medicines cannot be ensured.

Pharmacists without Borders is looking forward to continued close collaboration with Hanga Health Centre, Action Medeor and EPN to ensure sustainable improvements, a constant growth of the project and access to safe medication for all people in the surrounding area of Hanga.