Polish Psychiatric Association Continues to Support Ukrainian Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Associations
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the Polish Psychiatric Association (PPA), a member of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Zone 9, was quick to offer support to Ukrainian psychiatrists and two Ukrainian Psychiatric Associations by actively providing medical and humanitarian aid.
Over the past couple of months, the PPA’s main Board has appealed to numerous governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as pharmaceutical companies to ensure they are aware and acknowledge the psychiatric facilities’ needs, including their demand for psychiatric drugs. The information was also shared with National Psychiatric Associations associated within the European Psychiatric Association, providing a list of specific medications that are in particular demand.
These continued efforts by the PPA have contributed to the transfer of a number of medical supplies, including the necessary psychotropic drugs, to Ukraine. For example, the Lundbeck factory based in Poland recently sent a transport of medications (Clopixol Acuphase, Clopixol Depot, Fluanxol depot), which was then distributed to various psychiatric hospitals.
The PPA main Board regularly meet with Ukrainian psychiatrists to discuss their needs regarding medical and humanitarian aid. Currently, their most primary needs are for antipsychotic medications in the form of short-acting intramuscular injections and long-acting injections (haloperidol, clopenthixol). These meetings are also attended by a representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health.
In addition to the support and work carried out by the PPA, they have also raised monetary aid to purchase electrical power generators for Ukrainian Psychiatric hospitals that are suffering from a lack electricity. They are also in the process of purchasing one to two ambulances.
Prof. Afzal Javed, WPA President, commented “We would like to thank the PPA for all of their valuable contributions and we continue to offer support for all humanitarian efforts to help those currently affected by the war in Ukraine.”
Authors: Professor Jerzy Samochowiec, Professor Janusz Heitzman and Dr Tomasz Szafranski
For the Board of PPA