Day of pharmacy Contact person on site

Day of the pharmacy - inform local contact person

08/06/2011

Pharmacists throughout Germany use this year's „Day of the pharmacy“ to inform about the topic of organ donation. Although the German Foundation for Organ Transplantation (DSO) reported a record number of organ donations for the past year, the experts see further need for action.

Almost 1,300 people donated their organs after death in 2010, according to the German Foundation for Organ Transplantation (DSO) at the beginning of the year. In order to increase the willingness of the population to donate organs, the pharmacies in Germany will inform tomorrow „Day of the pharmacy“ under the motto „There is a lifesaver in everyone“ about the topic of organ donation.

Over 10,000 pharmacies inform about organ donations
Annually the federation of German pharmacists associations (ABDA) initiates the „Day of the pharmacy“, to deal with nationwide promotions in public pharmacies „Draw attention to the importance of the health profession for the supply of medicines to the population“. According to the ABDA, the „Care of the patients by the pharmaceutical staff and the wide range of services of the pharmacies“ in the focus of the action day. In addition, many pharmacies would use the day, „to make their customers aware of their special skills - from diabetes to asthma, for children and seniors, from homeopathy to formulas“, explained the Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations in a recent press release. Altogether over 10,000 pharmacies are involved in the day of action. Under this year's motto „There is a lifesaver in everyone“ The local pharmacy teams inform about the issue of organ donation and distribute over seven million organ donor cards. The campaign was supported by the German Foundation for Organ Transplantation (DSO).

Filling in organ donor cards relieves relatives
The Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations explained that the pharmacy teams as important contact persons for all local health issues „life-saving emergency measures“ Organ donations are a special concern. The participating pharmacies want to sensitize their customers to this important topic with the help of posters and leaflets in order to further increase the willingness of the population to donate organs in the future. Not least with the argument that „It is three times more likely to need an organ yourself than to become an organ donor“. The ABDA also noted that every organ donor „after his death give up to seven people a new life“ can. So that the relatives do not have to decide about a possible organ removal, the readiness for organ donation is recommended to fill out an organ donor card that clearly documents the will and relieves relatives, the Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations further stated. (Fp)

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Picture: siepmannH, Pixelio.de.