Here’s to your health

Francis Marion University is pioneering a new and innovative approach to help students with their healthcare.

The university is partnering with Welvista, a non-profit pharmaceutical company based in Columbia, SC. Welvista operates a mail order pharmacy and uses collective pricing power to make a variety of medications available to uninsured and underserved clients. 

FMU is the first institution in the state to partner with Welvista. The company will offer free pharmaceuticals to eligible students and employees who are South Carolina residents without health insurance.

FMU’s Student Government Association led the push to bring Welvista to FMU. Student body president Devan Campbell says the new program will help lots of students at FMU.

“Welvista is the biggest initiative that the Student Government took up this year,” Campbell says. “My administration wanted to give back to the students this year, and we did — big time. This way, students do not have to pick between paying for food and medicine. We are proud to serve our community, and I am blessed to be president of this student body.”

Campbell, a senior double-major in history and political science, was elected as Student Body President for the 2023-24 school year. The Greer, SC native hopes the Welvista partnership will be an enduring legacy of his service. 

FMU President Fred Carter says Welvista is a worthwhile program that will help FMU students the same way it’s helped thousands of South Carolinians through the years.

“I’ve had the privilege to work with Welvista over the years. It is a compassionate non-profit, which is widely respected for healthcare outreach – especially those supporting underserved populations,” says Carter. “I’m delighted that FMU will be its first collegiate partner for pharmaceutical services. A sizable number of our students will benefit from this collaboration.”

The initiative became effective in March with a rollout event on the UC Lawn. The partnership benefits not only students, but qualifying employees as well.   

Welvista started in 1991 and has been growing ever since. In 2022, Welvista provided 257,153 free prescriptions for chronic diseases to nearly 20,000 patients across the state. Its children’s dental programs serve students in 28 high-need districts in South Carolina.