The award was made by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), at their annual conference in Australia at the end of September. Safe Pharmacy is a domestic abuse support service, which was launched in July 2022 and now has 1,087 participating pharmacies. Safe Pharmacy provides any person who is experiencing domestic abuse with a safe and secure location to seek support. The pharmacies provide access to a phone in a private consultation room and contact details for local support services. This service allows victims to make that important call, for example, to a family member, local specialist domestic violence services or An Garda Síochána.

IPU Acting Secretary General Derek Reilly said; “A key strength of this initiative has been the development of strong cross-sectoral partnerships and this award is the recognition that such an approach is both important and effective. We are proud that so many pharmacies have chosen to participate in this national initiative and, most importantly, we are proud that many people have now taken that important first step towards accessing help because of Safe Pharmacy”.

Anyone who is experiencing a domestic abuse situation and wishes to seek the support provided is advised to look for the purple Safe Pharmacy sign on the window displays of participating pharmacies. In the pharmacy they should ask to speak to the pharmacist in the consultation room, this happens multiple times a day in every pharmacy so will not appear out of the ordinary to anyone who is in the pharmacy at the time. In the privacy and security of the consultation room the person can inform the pharmacist that they require support, and this will be provided.

For more information on Safe Pharmacy, including information on how to sign up to the initiative, go to ipu.ie > Safe Pharmacy.