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Description
Today, approximately 2.400.000 people live below the poverty line in Greece, facing extreme difficulty to cover their basic needs, including the need for medicines. The paradox of the story is that about 34.000.000 boxes of medicines are not being consumed, they expire and they are thrown away every year. At the same time, the pharmaceutical companies withdraw from the market large quantities of medicines with an expiry date of several months and they destroy them, destroying that way the medicines’ social value as well. Therefore, on the one hand there is limited access to medicines for a big part of the population, while on the other hand a huge amount of medicines is simply thrown away. Moreover, it has been noted that socially vulnerable groups have limited knowledge in terms of handling medicines and medication compliance; a fact that puts at stake both personal and public health. The project will support vulnerable groups regarding rights to healthcare and at the same time will raise awareness regarding medicines waste.
In the context of the project, vulnerable individuals will be empowered through the following: informational activities regarding their rights to healthcare, educational activities in terms of handling medicines and medication compliance and last but not least facilitation in their access to the medicines they need through a specific application for smartphones. In order to take place the above-mentioned activities, informational and educational material will be developed for the beneficiaries. Furthermore, training sessions will take place for healthcare professionals and municipalities’ personnel. In addition to that and for the purpose of the application’s effective operation, GIVMED’s network of medicines donors will be extended so as to secure the necessary medicines at the donation points. By the end of the project 3.000 vulnerable individuals and 50 professionals are expected to be benefited.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key challenges:
- Poverty and Access to Medicine: Around 2.4 million people in Greece were living below the poverty line and facing extreme difficulty in accessing essential medicines.
- Waste of Medicine: Around 34 million boxes of medicines expired and were thrown away every year, with pharmaceutical companies destroying medicines nearing expiration.
- Lack of Knowledge: Socially vulnerable groups had limited knowledge about proper medicine handling and medication compliance, which posed risks to both personal and public health.
1. What were the issues or challenges the project aimed to address?
The project aimed to address several key challenges:
- Poverty and Access to Medicine: Around 2.4 million people in Greece were living below the poverty line and facing extreme difficulty in accessing essential medicines.
- Waste of Medicine: Around 34 million boxes of medicines expired and were thrown away every year, with pharmaceutical companies destroying medicines nearing expiration.
- Lack of Knowledge: Socially vulnerable groups had limited knowledge about proper medicine handling and medication compliance, which posed risks to both personal and public health.
2. What did the project do? (Describe the activities and outputs)
The project focused on empowering socially vulnerable groups by:
- Informing and Educating: It provided information on healthcare rights, education on handling medicines, and guidance on medication compliance.
- Developing and Distributing Materials: Informational and educational materials were created and distributed to beneficiaries.
- Training Sessions: Healthcare professionals and municipal personnel were trained to support the project’s goals.
- Smartphone Application: The project facilitated access to medicines through a smartphone application (MEDforU), which allowed users to register their medical needs.
- Networking for Medicine Donations: The project expanded its network to encourage the donation of medicines, involving pharmaceutical companies and nonprofit organizations to collect and distribute medicines.
The project achieved the following results:
- Beneficiaries: The project supported socially vulnerable groups, including individuals in need of medicines, healthcare professionals, and nonprofit organizations.
- Key Outcomes:
- 71 nonprofit organizations received educational and informational material.
- Over 500 users registered to MEDforU, registering over 700 needs.
- Donations were secured from 35 pharmaceutical companies.
- 36 nonprofit organizations joined the network.
- 1,300 individuals donated their leftover medicines.
- 110 healthcare professionals were trained (including 51 municipal staff and 59 from nonprofit organizations).
Impact: The project improved access to medicines for vulnerable groups, reduced waste, and promoted more efficient use of resources. It also enhanced knowledge about proper medication use and empowered individuals to better manage their health needs.