The Cabildo of Tenerife and the Official College of Pharmacists of Tenerife, in collaboration with the distribution centres Cofarte and Cofares, are working on an agreement to establish a protocol for the 345 pharmacies on the island. This initiative aims to transform these pharmacies into reference points for the receipt and distribution of medications in the event of any emergencies on the island.
The Cabildo has entrusted the logistics companies responsible for medication distribution with the task of delivering essential supplies to any location within the island’s territory. According to the Corporation, this will ensure support for individuals who may be evacuated in times of crisis.
This was highlighted during a recent meeting attended by the Councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, the Insular Director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín, and the managers of the Official College of Pharmacists of Tenerife and Cofarte, Marina León and Eduardo Padilla, respectively.
The meeting also addressed the preparation for the EU-Modex Tenerife exercise concerning volcanic risk, scheduled for the week of 22–28 September in Garachico. Both the collegiate body and the pharmaceutical delivery companies will participate, coordinating the supply and distribution of medications during the evacuation and shelter simulation days.
Volcanic Crisis
Blanca Pérez explained that the EU-Modex exercise represents a “unique opportunity” to enhance the response to a volcanic crisis. “It helps us prepare more effectively for such an event and establish a strategy to meet the needs of the population should such an occurrence arise. This is why we are engaging with all the stakeholders who can actively participate in assisting the population, particularly those involved in logistics and supply,” she stated.
She continued, “The Official College of Pharmacists of Tenerife, Cofarte and Cofares are entities that can fulfil essential needs for assisting a population at risk.”
For the Garachico drill, for example, “the three pharmacies in the municipality will become the focal points for distributing medications previously requested from the logistical centres and delivering them to the population simulating evacuation.”
The councillor remarked, “This is an example of what it means to have a network of 345 pharmacies in Tenerife ready to ensure access to medications for individuals during an emergency.”
The Insular Director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín, affirmed that “the objective is to guarantee the safety of individuals, and the ‘Modex’ serves as an opportunity to test protocols and plans, which will later be analysed to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and improve upon them.”
