Our social commitment is divided into local charitable projects that the Merck subsidiaries implement independently, and into global projects. The latter include the Merck Praziquantel Donation Program, the Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF), and the Merck Philharmonic Orchestra.
Praziquantel Donation Program: Combating schistosomiasis
In 2007, we entered into a partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the worm disease schistosomiasis in African school children. Merck is donating 200 million tablets of Cesol® 600 containing the active ingredient praziquantel over a ten-year period. This donation will permit the treatment of 27 million children. Schistosomiasis is the most common tropical disease in Africa after malaria, causing primarily children to suffer. In 2010, 3.8 million children were treated within the scope of this partnership.
Global Pharma Health Fund: Protection from counterfeit medicines
The Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF), which is funded by Merck, is combating counterfeit medicines in developing and emerging countries. According to WHO estimates, up to 30% of the medicines offered worldwide are either counterfeit or of inferior quality. Many African and Asian countries are especially affected by this since they lack effective regulatory and enforcement systems for medicines. In order to effectively identify counterfeits and quickly remove them from circulation, 394 compact mobile laboratories, or GPHF-Minilabs, were in use in more than 70 countries as of December 31, 2010. They make it possible to rapidly identify pharmaceutical active ingredients and to immediately detect inferior or ineffective drugs.
Merck Philharmonic Orchestra: Cultural promotion
The Merck Philharmonic Orchestra is one example of how we promote culture. With around 80 professional musicians and a very diverse concert repertoire, the orchestra is not only an integral part of the cultural life in the vicinity of our corporate headquarters in Darmstadt; it also tours internationally. Special events for children and adolescents as well as cooperation with schools are intended to encourage young people to develop a taste for classical music.