Our social commitment comprises local and regional charitable projects that the Merck subsidiaries implement independently as part of the existing Corporate Responsibility concept, as well as global projects. The latter include the Merck Praziquantel Donation Program, the Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF) and the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck.
Merck 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. As part of this collaboration, Merck is donating Cesol® 600 tablets containing the active ingredient praziquantel. Schistosomiasis is the most common tropical disease in Africa after malaria, causing primarily children to suffer. More than five million children were treated in 2011. We extended the partnership to fight schistosomiasis, which was originally planned for a period of ten years, and will continue donating Cesol® 600 until the disease has been eliminated in Africa.
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, between 10% and 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, around 470 compact mobile laboratories, or GPHF-Minilabs, were in use in more than 70 countries at the end of 2011. These Minilabs make it possible to rapidly identify 57 different drug active ingredients and to immediately detect inferior or ineffective medicines.
Deutsche Philharmonie Merck: Cultural promotion
The Deutsche Philharmonie Merck is one example of how we promote culture. With up to 80 professional musicians and a very diverse concert repertoire, this orchestra is not only an integral part of the cultural life in the vicinity of our corporate headquarters in Darmstadt – it also tours internationally. In autumn 2011, the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck performed in seven cities in India as part of the “Year of Germany in India 2011–2012“, and then went on to play in Bangkok to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Merck entity in Thailand. Nearly 10,000 people attended the concerts in Asia.
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