Pharmacists Are on the Front Lines – So Why Aren’t They Being Protected?

At the outbreak of the pandemic, hundreds of pharmacies across the country were categorized as essential services, and pharmacists continued working on a daily basis in order to provide service to the residents who needed them.

But unlike medical personnel, who received equipment to prevent coronavirus infections, the pharmacists were left unprotected.

With 70% of Israeli pharmacists being from the Arab society, Arab MAOZ Network members from the healthcare and activist worlds sent an urgent appeal to the Ministry of Health. They also took other supporting actions, such as raising media awareness, appealing to political parties, and putting direct pressure on policymakers.

And it worked: the Ministry of Health guidelines were amended within less than 24 hours, and the new document contains a clear ordinance regarding the protection of pharmacy staff.