Access to needed medicine is often the weakest link in the health-care systems of impoverished countries. Millions of people are dying from preventable and treatable diseases.

Canada is committed to preventing and controlling poverty-related diseases and working on initiatives to reduce the disease burden that are built on sustainable health delivery systems. HPIC is helping Canada meet these objectives.

HPIC works with governments, aid agencies, hospitals and medical professionals in the developing world to supply needed medicines in response to their requests. Medical aid frees up limited resources and helps countries develop by having more money to spend on building economies, infrastructure, education and training.

Health is a pillar of sustainable development and allows a person to fully participate in their family, community, society and economy.
Back to top

How does the work of HPIC make a difference?

Medical aid from HPIC prevents disease, restores health, treats illnesses, eases suffering, cures infections, and sometimes extends lives. Receiving medical treatment enables a mother to care for her children, a parent to work and provide for the family, and a child to go to school.
Back to top

Is HPIC connected to the health-care industry?

HPIC is an independent charity that partners with the health-care industry to obtain needed medical aid. For most health-care companies, HPIC is the charity of choice for product donations.
Back to top

How does HPIC function?

HPIC draws on a diverse group of partners to achieve our mission. Health-care companies from all sectors of the industry donate the medical products needed in the field. The Government of Canada, foundations, companies and individuals provide the funding needed. HPIC works with medical professionals, aid organizations and government agencies to plan programs and to distribute medical aid.
Back to top

How does HPIC obtain medical products?

HPIC has worked since 1990 to establish and build partnerships with Canadian health-care companies across all sectors of the industry. HPIC requests specific products from each of the approximately 80 companies that regularly donate product to HPIC. HPIC also receives valuable and useful surplus products.
Back to top

Which health-care companies donate medicines, vaccines and medical supplies to HPIC?

HPIC has about 80 active partnerships with companies that are members of Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, BIOTECanada, NDMAC, the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, and MEDEC. For a complete list of our product donors, visit our website and go to the Partners section.

Is the medicine that HPIC sends to the developing world expired?

Definitely not. In keeping with the World Health Organization Guidelines for Drug Donations, medicines must have enough shelf life left to be used before expiry and be suited for the needs of the destination country.
Back to top

Why would a health-care company donate medical products if they can be sold in Canada?

Canadian health-care companies are motivated by compassion for people in need and by a desire to help Canadian doctors who are volunteering overseas to provide medical care. In addition, many companies have corporate giving programs and have committed to supporting the work of HPIC. In 2006, Canadian health-care companies donated $26.7 million in medical products. In the 2007 Federal Budget, the government introduced a new measure to provide a modest deduction for donations of qualified products effective March 19, 2007.
Back to top

What can $1 donated to HPIC accomplish?

Every $1 donated to HPIC provides at least $10 worth of medical aid. Financial donations are highly leveraged because HPIC partners with Canadian health-care companies that donate requested medicines, vaccines and medical supplies. The partnership model of HPIC also helps to reduce costs and get more medical aid to people in need. Instead of duplicating what other organizations are already doing, HPIC works with governmental agencies, aid organizations and medical professionals to devise medical aid programs that meet needs on the ground. HPIC’s staff and board take pride in being good stewards of our resources. We have a team of volunteers that pack Physician Travel Packs and Dental Travel Packs and help in the distribution centre. HPIC is committed to keeping overhead costs to a minimum.
Back to top

If HPIC receives donated medicines, vaccines and medical supplies, why does HPIC require financial support?
Back to top

The costs of running HPIC and getting medical aid to people in need include:

assessing needs on the ground
researching and planning programs that respond to needs
screening and processing applications for medical aid
researching medical products that are needed overseas and staying informed about pharmacological developments
establishing and maintaining relationships with program partners (e.g. World Health Organization, Canadian International Development Agency, medical community, aid agencies, Canadian and foreign governments)
establishing and maintaining relationships with about 80 health-care companies
renting a 26,000-square-foot international distribution centre and operating it according to industry standards
receiving, verifying and handling thousands of products and millions of individual items and entering each item into a sophisticated inventory system
co-ordinating logistics for shipments of medical aid
packing medical aid shipments and preparing official documentation
conducting audit trips to verify that medical aid has been distributed according to plan
communications and reporting.

Where does HPIC’s funding come from?

HPIC has four main sources of cash funding: general donations from private companies, government grants; shipment contributions from partner aid agencies; foundations and individuals; and donations from health-care companies.

How much of HPIC’s resources go to administration?

In 2005, HPIC allocated 98.64% to medical aid programs. Only 1.38% of resources were dedicated to administration and fundraising.

Where does the medical aid from HPIC go?

Since 1990 HPIC has distributed medical aid to people in need in 116 countries all over the world, excluding first world countries.

How long has HPIC been operating?

HPIC sent its first shipment of medical aid in 1990 to help the survivors of an earthquake in Iran.

Does HPIC have field offices?

HPIC does not have overseas staff. HPIC works in partnership with other reputable agencies to ensure that the medicines are properly dispensed and administered. HPIC visits field operations and overseas projects to assess needs and to conduct audits.

What assurance can HPIC offer to donors that medical aid goes to people in need?

HPIC has a clean 16-year track record. HPIC’s distribution partners (PTP & DTP carriers & humanitarian organizations) must:

provide HPIC with the name and address of the medical professional or health facility that will be receiving medical aid
confirm that medical aid has arrived safely
report on how the medical aid was used.

HPIC conducts audit trips to verify that medical aid has arrived and been distributed as agreed.

What happens if a manufacturer issues a product recall?

HPIC has a tracking system and can trace a product and alert the recipient(s).

I am going to visit a country in the developing world. Can I take medicines with me?

Depending on which country you are visiting, you could possibly take the Physician Travel Pack if your application is approved. The PTP was designed by doctors for doctors. Most of the people who carry a PTP are doctors. Some people who are affiliated with an aid agency also carry PTPs overseas. All PTP carriers must apply for a PTP at least three weeks prior to departure. All applications are screened through our eligibility process.

I have some medicine and/or medical supplies that I no longer need. Can I donate this to HPIC?

HPIC does not accept donations of medicines or medical supplies from individuals.

I have a used wheelchair that I would like to donate to HPIC? How do I proceed?

As a rule, HPIC does not accept used equipment from individuals or hospitals. On occasion HPIC has accepted equipment from a hospital or doctor’s office that is low-tech and does not require electricity. Such donations would have to be delivered directly to HPIC’s Distribution Centre.
Call 1-866-798-4742.
Back to top

What can I do to help send medical aid to the developing world?

There are a variety of ways that an individual can get involved.

Donate to HPIC and see your gift multiplied by 10 to send at least $10 worth of medical aid for every $1 you donate to HPIC.
Many progressive companies have a policy to give corporately. When a company gives, it has a positive impact on employees and on the public image of the company. Why not introduce HPIC to your company? Your colleagues can participate too, especially if your company agrees to match employee donations to HPIC.
Give $45 a month and sponsor a Physician Travel Pack. By doing so, you will send enough medicine to treat up to 1,000 people.
Become a HealthBuilder by making a monthly commitment to support HPIC.
When an emergency strikes in the developing world, make a donation to HPIC and send needed medical aid.
Become a volunteer. HPIC has a volunteer packing program in Mississauga.
Carry a Physician Travel Pack if you are going to a developing country

For more information contact:
Margaret Buchanan
Manager, Media Relations
Toll-free: 1-800-627-1787
Tel: 514-695-0007, ext. 117
email: mbuchanan@hpicanada.ca