An improved design for sealing and lubricating the moving parts of a rotary vane pump. An effectively operating lubricant distributing system is obtained in such a pump by forming radially extending passages through the pump drive shaft and attached rotor which connect the lubricant carrying hollow portion of the drive shaft with chambers located between the base of the vanes and the slits formed in the rotor in which the vanes radially slide. The rear bearing in which the drive shaft rotates is connected to these vane base chambers by means of an annular compartment having a lubricant duct connected thereto, thereby insuring the continuous flow of lubricant from the hollow portion of the drive shaft, through the vane base chambers and into the rear bearing. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the front bearing of the pump is connected with the hollow portion of the drive shaft via a lubricant passage formed on the suction side of the vanes. In addition, various designs of the above-mentioned front and rear bearing lubricant supply arrangements are also disclosed.