The association “Apotheker Helfen eV” has been supporting people in crisis regions worldwide for many years. Treasurer Maximilian Lernbecher, 48, owner of the upper pharmacy in Dachau, explains in an interview how the association helps in Ukraine and what is missing locally.
SZ: Mr. Lernbecher, your club profile shows that in the past you have repeatedly delivered relief supplies to crisis areas, but not to war zones like the Ukraine. Why did you decide to help in Ukraine?
Maximilian Lernbecher: It’s really unique in our association’s history that we’re delivering relief supplies in such a hot phase of the war. At first we were of course terribly shocked by what is happening in Ukraine. But after inquiries came relatively quickly from the affected regions for medicines and other medical supplies, we contacted those responsible on site. And then we went shopping. That all happened relatively quickly.
Who will support you with the aid deliveries?
The fact that we can help at all is mainly due to our cooperation partners, such as the aid organization LandsAid, who brought us on board. They know that we have a certain amount of money and the ability to procure medicines. We have been working together for many years, sending disaster response teams equipped with medicines, antibiotics and water purification tablets. We also count on our long-standing networks and are therefore happy when our local partners build something and we only have to take care of the transport, as in this case. We deliver to our own warehouse at the border with an external forwarding agency. The relief supplies are reloaded there and immediately transported to the destination hospital.
What is the current situation in Ukraine, but also at the border?
In western Ukraine, to Lviv, the main hub, we can still get medicine and other relief supplies relatively easily. The Ukrainians then distribute it themselves within the country. That would just be too dangerous for us. And luckily it still works. But especially with the besieged cities, we no longer have a chance of getting anything in. At the very beginning, delivery could probably go as far as Kyiv. This will be more difficult. The focus is on antibiotics, bandages and painkillers. But that was two weeks ago. That went through a Ukrainian doctor who organized it. This is to be distinguished from the help at the Ukrainian border: the on-site help in the European member states, the first aid for the refugees is now working very well. I haven’t heard of any major problems there.
As a pharmacist, how can you help in a war like this?
Our colleagues voluntarily take care of the dispensing of medicines and that the medicines are properly stored and supplied to reliable sources. The medicines always go to health facilities, to hospitals, to doctors or to military hospitals. We also have our deliveries fully tracked. That is our logistical task. And the lever is different for us. Our partners receive goods that we can source directly and that are from specialized wholesalers. Drug manufacturers and wholesalers who are friends of ours also donate drugs to us. We can use our networks in a targeted manner to process inquiries from Ukraine.
What do these requests say?
These are mainly hospitals from the Ukraine who send us inquiries about their needs. In Lviv, for example, we supplied a children’s hospital and a facility for children with neurological diseases such as epilepsy. It’s also a catastrophe when the children are dependent on long-term medication and then because of the war this is in vain. We also got a list from Odessa. This works quite well and that’s how we want it, that we are given specific lists and an exact need. This is the only way we can ensure that we use the donations as needed. But I have to say: there are some really scary things that are asked about that make our hair stand on end. For example, medicines to stop bleeding, strong painkillers, medicines for burns caused by phosphorus bombs. Fortunately, these are things that we rarely need in Germany. But these are also quantities that make you think, for God’s sake, what’s going on there. You can already tell here that certain painkillers for children or first-aid kits are no longer available, they were all delivered to the Ukraine.
How much have you shipped to Ukraine so far?
We’ve loaded three trucks so far. The fourth is due to leave next week, so we’re still waiting for the medicines to be ordered from the Ukrainian hospitals.
Does this mean that the willingness to donate is still very high?
Yes, I find the willingness to donate remarkable. I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Because we depend on monetary donations. You can really help with this, it saves lives. And I always say: We are glad that we only have to help.