Fort MacMurray pharmacist Osama Beniameen never hesitated to step up for one second after learning that a disabled TFW woman could not afford medication that she needed. The kindhearted pharmacist covered the bill himself, and provided free medication to the woman. Benjameen plies his trade at The Medicine Shoppe, and he covered an entire year of medication for Filipino temporary foreign worker Maria Victoria Venancio. In 2011 Venancio was in Edmonton riding a bike to work when she was in an accident that left her a quadriplegic who requires a wheelchair. Because she was not capable of working in this condition Venancio’s visa renewal was denied and she was in the country illegally. This meant that Maria did not qualify for health insurance under Canadian law.

As a temporary foreign worker with no visa Venancio can not afford her medical treatment. In addition to the free medication provided by the Fort MacMurray pharmacist Maria is also receiving uncompensated care from a local family doctor and a physiotherapist who have volunteered their services as well. As an immigrant from Egypt around a decade ago Benjameen said that he was moved when he found out that Venancio could not afford her medication and had no healthcare coverage. The Fort MacMurray pharmacist stated “As health care professionals, we should not look at how much before servicing somebody. We focus on changing lives, not on how much we charge and make. If you see someone needing help, give them a hand. This is my way of practice. When I serve a patient I want them to get well. She should not go home helpless. She has no capability for paying on her own but she is still part of the Canadian community.”