The Benevolent Fund supports those who are or who have been associated with pharmacy and are now in need of assistance. The funds raised are put to a wide variety of uses to improve the basic quality of life for those in need.

While many believe that the typical pharmacist is financially secure, there are occasions when someone may fall on hard times or are affected by poor health. Some may need help accessing the services of the IPU or paying their annual PSI registration fee.

The main objective of the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund is “the relief of poverty by giving financial assistance to persons in need who are or have been engaged in or associated with the pharmaceutical profession and to the spouses, widows, widowers, children and other dependents of such persons who themselves are in need”. Assistance may also be provided “to any other individuals in Ireland who may be considered to be in need of financial assistance”. Currently all those we look after, if not pharmacists themselves, have a personal link with pharmacy.

Many people find it hard to believe that there’s any poverty in pharmacy. We know from experience that there is and it is often hidden. Like most other professions, pharmacy has a benevolent fund to look after colleagues and their families who have fallen on hard times and need a helping hand.

The Pharmacy Benevolent Fund is there to help financially or by linking those in need with services such as Practitioner Health Matters.