The Cabildo of Lanzarote and the Official College of Pharmacists of Las Palmas have signed a collaboration protocol that integrates the island's pharmacy network into insular policies for social welfare, prevention, and health promotion, within the framework of the Insular Strategy for Accessibility and Inclusion.
The protocol, signed by the president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, establishes a framework for joint work between the Department of Social Welfare and Inclusion and the Official College of Pharmacists of Las Palmas, recognizing the role of pharmacies as accessible, close-by spaces capable of early detection of social and health situations.
During the signing, Betancort pointed out that the agreement allows for the incorporation of 45 pharmacies in Lanzarote and the pharmaceutical dispensary of La Graciosa into a care model that goes beyond the dispensing of medicines. "The pharmacy is a point of direct contact with citizens, capable of identifying vulnerable situations and providing information on socio-health resources," indicated the president, who announced the intention to continue this model in the coming years.
For his part, the Minister of Social Welfare and Equality, Marci Acuña, explained that the protocol will allow **the pharmacy network to actively collaborate in prevention and information policies,** reinforcing the reach of public campaigns to the population. Acuña highlighted that the trusting relationship between pharmacists and users facilitates access to key information in areas such as mental health, addiction prevention, gender-based violence, and social inclusion.
Likewise, Alicia Wildpret, a board member of the Official College of Pharmacists of Las Palmas in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, emphasized that the agreement improves the quality of care provided by pharmacies. As she explained, pharmaceutical staff will have training and tools to guide people going through adverse situations. "Pharmacies are the most accessible healthcare facilities for the population, and we want to improve them by adapting to the needs of all groups," she insisted.
The protocol contemplates four specific actions for 2026: the campaigns "Pharmacy and Mental Health" and "Addiction Prevention"; the initiative "Gender Violence: Pharmacy as a Safe Space"; and the program "Accessible and Healthy Pharmacies – Health Promoting Island". All of them will be developed in a coordinated manner between both institutions and aligned with the National Health Promotion Strategy and the Network of Healthy Islands and Cities.
