Pharmacists Profession-Wide Call For Ceasefire In Gaza

Dear Pharmacists,

Today, we are reaching out to you as healthcare professionals to shed light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to urge your support for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. As the attack on the densely populated Gaza strip continues, we have tragically witnessed the loss of over 20,000 innocent lives including 8,000 children and the exacerbation of a severe medical and humanitarian crisis that demands our collective attention and action. 

As pharmacists, it is important to understand the public health implications that are currently unfolding before our eyes due to Israel’s suffocating siege which limits the amount of food, fuel, water, and medical essentials that are allowed to enter to roughly two million residents of Gaza. This siege, coupled with the direct bombardment of hospitals and ambulances, has disrupted the supply chain of essential medications, leaving many patients without the treatment they urgently require.

Hospitals that are already overwhelmed by thousands of trauma patients are running out of fuel, which means patients hooked to ventilators and premature babies in incubators will not be able to survive. Pregnant women are being forced to give birth and undergo C-sections without pain medications. Surgeries are being performed on the floor without anesthesia. Doctors are being forced to use vinegar on open wounds due to lack of antibiotics. Malnourishment and dehydration have become widespread. The displacement of over 1.2 million Gazans has led to overcrowded shelters and increased vulnerability to the spread of preventable diseases.This is nothing short of a humanitarian crisis.

The basis of our profession is highlighted in the oath of a pharmacist, which we swore to abide by when we started our careers. This oath states, “I promise to devote myself to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy. In fulfilling this vow: I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns.”  The welfare of humanity has been gravely compromised in Gaza and it is our duty as pharmacists to demand an end to this ongoing crisis. 

By signing this petition, you express your support for an immediate and lasting end to the violence and allowing unhindered access and delivery of essential medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Gaza. As pharmacists, our advocacy for peace goes hand in hand with our commitment to ensuring access to life-saving medications and healthcare services.

We urge you to:

1. Healthcare Solidarity: As pharmacists, our commitment to healthcare goes beyond borders. By signing, you affirm your dedication to ensuring access to medical care for those in need and denounce violence towards hospitals, healthcare workers, and patients, including the 200 Palestinian medical personnel who have been killed. 

2. Stay Informed: Stay informed about the situation in Gaza through reliable news sources and international humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, UNICEF, and Amnesty International.

3. Advocate for Peace: Share information within your professional networks and communities to raise awareness about the medical and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Your voice and influence as pharmacists can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected. Let us stand together in solidarity to support a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and work towards alleviating the medical and humanitarian crisis. 

Thank you for your commitment to promoting health and well-being worldwide. Let us not only bridge the healthcare gaps in our communities but also strive for a world where health equity knows no borders.

Please sign the petition below. 

Warmest regards,

Dr. Amira Saqqa, PharmD

Dr. Raneem Al-Ahmed, PharmD, RPh