Many Madrid pharmacies have joined the call made by the Official College of Pharmacists to keep a minute of silence this Wednesday "in honor and memory" of pharmacists who died of the coronavirus. So far, the death of eight professionals has been confirmed, six in Madrid, one in Ciudad Real and one in La Rioja.

In addition, more than 270 affected people are registered throughout the country and more than 55 pharmacies have closed due to the pandemic, according to the complaint from the Business Federation of Spanish Pharmacists (FEFE), which requests "urgently" protection material (EPIS) for pharmacies, "in order to avoid its closure and deprive itself of patient care."

"We urgently demand from the health authorities protective material for pharmacy professionals (EPIS) because we are at the forefront of contagion and because we have to avoid the closure of more pharmacies, because they are basic health centers to serve patients, and unique in many places in Spain. We also have to avoid being a focus of contagion for those who come to our establishments, "says Luis de Palacio, president of FEFE.

De Palacio said that they are "deeply" concerned that "the central authorities and the autonomous communities do not react by providing us with the necessary protective equipment and that we have to constantly remind them that we are a high-risk focus and that we are providing a service tomorrow, afternoon and night to millions of people throughout Spain ".

"We want to signify that we are taking care of elderly and sick people who cannot do without their medication and who are at serious risk if pharmacies are absent"