Pharmacy Daily | Wizard bushfire appeal

WESTERN Australian pharmacy group, Wizard Pharmacy, has raised $20,000 for bushfire relief and recovery.

The funds will be donated to the Australian Red Cross and WWF Australia.

Wizard Pharmacy Chief Operating Officer, Sally Parker, said members of the group had felt compelled to give their support to people affected by the fires.

"Like all Australians, we're deeply saddened by the bushfires burning across our country and the devastating effect it has had on many communities, wildlife, our firefighters and the Australian landscape," she said.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and look out for further ways we can offer our help, whether that be now or further into the recovery period."

Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Pharmacy of the Year finalist, Wizard Pharmacy Kalgoorlie Central has also acted as a drop-off point for medical supplies donated to support those impacted by the fires.

Kalgoorlie Central pharmacist, Teeba Al-Mawab, said the store would continue to collect donations, which will be transported across the country to affected areas, including Kangaroo Island.

"We will keep in touch and keep it going for as long as it needs to be done," she said.

Meanwhile, Alliance Pharmacy has raised $175,291 to support pharmacies affected by the fires, through its GoFundMe campaign (PD 14 Jan).

Member pharmacies collected $68,215 through non-prescription sales across 50 stores on 16 Jan.

A separate GoFundMe appeal, launched by Queensland-based pharmacists, Joyce McSwann, Karalyn Huxhagen and Owen Mellon, has raised $16,095, with funds to be distributed to support pharmacists in bushfire-affected areas as they reestablish their businesses (PD 10 Jan).