Calling on GSK & Astrazeneca to provide lifesaving medicine for refugees in Europe

Since the refugee crisis in Europe began the people of the UK have united in a sterling effort to provide aid in the form of clothing, shelter, food and heat. These donations come from their own pockets, bank accounts and a deep sense of personal duty.

There are somethings however that the everyday person cannot provide in sufficient amounts and this includes basic medicine.

GSK and Astrazeneca are respectively the world's sixth and seventh largest pharmaceutical companies measured by 2014 market share: Last year Astrazeneca announced profits of $26.6 BILLION, an profit increase of 32% on 2013 and the GSK annual report 2014 announced profits of £23.0 BILLION, placing them in the top 2% of pharmaceutical companies world wide according to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

These types of profits mean that GSK and Astrazeneca are in a privileged position to give something back to the very people who have funded their operations for so long. This is our message:

To Sir Witty and Mr Soriot, I ask you - how much is a life worth to GSK & Astrazeneca? Will you help ensure the survival of refugees of war? Will you stand with the people who have purchased your products and funded your empires or will you put profit before people? We know you can help - you have the resources and the means to ensure that basic medical care, such as antibiotics, pain relief, basic first-aid, cold and flu treatments can be delivered where they are needed most.

If the people of the UK, where the average salary is £26,500 (down £164 since 2012) can sacrifice their time, goods, money and expertise to do the right thing, then is it really too much to ask for a multi-billion pound corporation, who profit from sickness and death, to dedicate just a tiny portion of its profits towards providing basic lifesaving necessities to those who have escaped oppression, torture , murder and rape only to succumb to colds, flu and hypothermia?

According to my calculations (in my life, I deal in hundreds not billions so please correct me if I am wrong!) but just 0.12% of £26 BILLION is approximately £32.5 MILLION, a figure that would go a long way to providing basic health care - even more so if they would provide the equivalent in the required medical goods to be administered by the small army of healthcare providers and medical volunteers in camps across Europe.

These are unthinkable figures for the average person;, and there are many who oppose big pharma for just this reason. However, this tragic situation provides both GSK and Astrazeneca with an opportunity to show their humanity and demonstrate the same values and common decency as those who are providing aid, fundraising and standing in the muddy rain drenched camps wondering how long the medicine will last now the winter is coming.

If you truly value life as your corporate mandate should dictate we urge you to prove it. Help us to help them.

We have trusted you with our lives, now we, are entrusting you with theirs. Please don't let us down.

Sources:
http://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/featurethe-top-10-biggest-pharmaceutical-companies-of-2014-4396561/
https://www.gsk.com/media/603031/annual-report-2014.pdf
https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/investor-relations.html
http://www.icalculator.info/news/UK_average_earnings_2014.html