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What if the distribution of medicines was based on solidarity?


Today, I present to you the Solidarity Pharmacy of Águas da Prata. And I’ll begin this story using one of my favorite words: serendipity.


The term “serendipity” can be defined as a happy occurrence that was unexpected—a pleasant surprise.

Stumbling upon the Solidarity Pharmacy of Águas da Prata was a serendipitous moment for me one afternoon.


As I wandered through the town of Águas, my usual curious traveler’s gaze led me to a blue-and-white building with two bold words painted on its wall: "Farmácia Solidária", what in english means Solidarity Pharmacy.


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Source: Personal archive of Jéssica Leite.


I wondered: Is it similar to the Popular Pharmacies we have in Rio de Janeiro? Perhaps not, because “solidarity” goes beyond mere popularity.


Within seconds of pondering this question, a decisive thought crossed my mind: “I’ll go ask what it is.”


And so, I found myself in a garden, surrounded by modest yet neatly arranged blue-painted structures. Directed to the larger room, I spoke with the initiative’s leader and the team that seemed to keep the wheels turning.


I learned that the Solidarity Pharmacy is an initiative of the Social Fund of the Municipality of Águas da Prata, located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Its purpose is to provide free medication to all residents of the municipality who seek it. To receive medications, individuals must have a doctor’s prescription, whether from the public or private sector.


One crucial element of this initiative—the medicines—will be donated through partnerships with pharmaceutical laboratories and voluntary efforts from individuals and businesses willing to support the cause.


Claudio Moreira leads the Social Fund of Águas da Prata and spearheads this project. He emphasized that the pharmacy aims to serve not specific groups but all residents of the city. He also mentioned that the model is inspired by the one implemented in Mogi Mirim, which has been replicated in three other cities in São Paulo.


As of my visit on June 27, 2024, the construction work for the pharmacy’s launch was in its final stages, with an inauguration planned for the first weeks of July 2024.


The Model in action


When I sat down to put this experience into words (virtually), I discovered an interesting update on the Solidarity Pharmacy model implemented in Mogi Mirim. There, the initiative is known as the “Gratitude Pharmacy” and celebrated its one-year anniversary in June of this year. According to news from the local government website, the solidarity pharmacy in Mogi Mirim currently serves 15,000 registered individuals, with 13,000 having already received medications. It is said to assist 100 people daily and is located at Faculdade Santa Lúcia, emphasizing a partnership with the educational sector. The news also mentions donations of medications from distributors, medical offices, organizations, and citizens¹ ².


In my research, I also came across the “Solidare Program - Solidarity Pharmacies” in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), established by law in 2019. This program provides a framework for municipalities to implement pharmacies following a similar logic to those mentioned above. Each RS municipality can choose whether to participate in the program, which focuses on the donation and free distribution of medications³.


The Power of Community to Drive Change


Upon hearing about the proposal and history of the Águas da Prata Pharmacy, I immediately thought about the community’s ability to materialize solutions that promote overall well-being without the need for endless miles of land or billion-dollar investments.

In this case, the community consists of four key players: Government, Corporations, Civil Society, and Individuals—each contributing at their own level.


The government ensures and maintains the physical space, large corporations donate from their surplus, social organizations continue their work and collaborate, and individual citizens contribute what they no longer need while receiving what they require.

The approach is minimalistic—the space, the actions, and the dynamics are straightforward. Those who have something to give, do so willingly, the ones in need receive it.


I believe that every impactful social initiative must be approached with care to prevent it from being co-opted for individualistic purposes that distort its primary goal of creating holistic solutions. Regardless of the path these projects take, every good and plausible idea should be seen as an example of how to address the challenges humanity faces—as individuals, as groups, and as part of the greater cosmos within and beyond Earth.


Plausible ideas that generate positive impact are not only hopeful signs of a better future but also evidence that we can co-create realities with more empathy, equity, respect, and a genuine desire to make things better.


The Águas da Prata initiative has inspired me, and I hope for a future where collaboration among all global actors truly serves the greater good. May this future increasingly materialize at all levels—micro, macro, and cosmic.


Now, do you know of any other impactful initiatives similar to these pharmacies? Join the movement. Share your thoughts below, spread the word on your social networks, and amplify the voices of those already shaping a positive future.


For updates on the Águas da Prata Solidarity Pharmacy, the team that welcomed me recommended following their website and social media channels:



Thank you for reading and envisioning a brighter future.


See you!

Jéssica Leite

From Lab F+.




References:

1. Faculdade Santa Lucia. Farmácia Gratidão: medicamentos para comunidades carentes de Mogi Mirim. 15 de março de 2022. Disponível em: https://santalucia.br/farmacia-gratidao-medicamentos-para-comunidades-carentes-de-mogi-mirim/ (Acesso em: 27 jun. 2024)

2. Prefeitura de Mogi Mirim. Farmácia Gratidão celebra 1 ano e já realiza cerca de 100 atendimentos por dia. 5 de junho de 2023. Disponível em: https://mogimirim.sp.gov.br/noticia/view/2871/farmacia-gratidao-celebra-1-ano-e-ja-realiza-cerca-de-100-atendimentos-por-dia (Acesso em: 27 jun. 2024)

3. Secretaria da Saúde do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Programa Solidare - Farmácia Solidária. Disponível em: https://saude.rs.gov.br/programa-farmacia-solidaria (Acesso em: 27 jun. 2024)



Also check out:

Prefeitura de águas da Prata. Lei nº2405, de 11 de outubro de 2022. Dispõe sobre a criação do Programa de doação de medicamentos no Município de Águas da Prata, nos termos que esta Lei dispõe, e dá outras providências. Disponível em: https://cmaguasdaprata.sp.gov.br/legislacao/detalhe/755/pdispoe-sobre-a-criacao-do-programa-de-doacao-de-medicamentos-no-municipio-de-aguas-da-prata-nos-termos-que-esta-lei-dispoe-e-da-outras-providenciasp/ (Acesso em: 27 jun. 2024)



P.s.: This text is not the result of sponsorship or any association with the institutions or people mentioned. This is an informative text, It contain a review of the information collected by the author.


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