The Merck Medical Outreach Program (MMOP) was established in 1958. Managed by Merck’s Office of Corporate Responsibility and Global Policy Support this program enables Merck to donate critical pharmaceuticals and vaccines to a limited number of qualified, U.S.-based, private voluntary organizations (PVOs) for use in their on-going, humanitarian programs in the developing world, and in support of major disaster relief efforts within the United States and abroad.

The scope of the MMOP varies from year to year and is influenced by changing medical needs in developing countries, the quantity of Merck medicines available for donation, and the random nature of natural and man-made disasters.

Donations of Merck medicines (with the exception of MECTIZAN^®(ivermectin) , for which there is a separate and dedicated program) are made primarily through six qualified  PVOs — AmeriCares, Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), Direct Relief International, IMA World Health, MAP International and Project HOPE.

Each of these organizations has a long-standing relationship with the Company, demonstrates integrity of purpose, provides assurance that Merck products will be securely warehoused and will not be diverted, mishandled or misappropriated, and has well-established programs for the ill and needy in developing countries. These qualifications provide the Company with the controls necessary for the proper distribution and handling of Merck medicines through this program. Merck does not provide donations of expired products or products that do not have adequate dating to allow for proper administration prior to expiration.

The Merck Medical Outreach Program includes three components:

The Merck Annual Product Allotment Program, which allows the six qualified PVOs to order fully dated material of their choice from the Company’s current product line — up to an annually authorized amount. This innovative approach to donations allows our partners to plan more effectively for their on-going humanitarian programs by ensuring a sustained and predictable supply of needed medicines. The first program of its kind in the industry, it has served as a model for other pharmaceutical companies who have established similar programs.

On-Going Donations of Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines:  Donations of Merck's pharmaceuticals and vaccines are made in response to proposals from our PVO partners to address the specific objectives and needs (short- and longer-term) of their programs in regions around the world.  Additionally, medicines and vaccines are offered proactively to the PVOs for use in their on-going humanitarian programs as they become available.

Disaster and Emergency Relief: The focus of Merck’s Disaster Relief program is to provide disaster assistance during major disasters and to support efforts in preparedness and recovery. Merck's Office of Corporate Philanthropy  serves as the central clearinghouse for information regarding Merck’s Company-wide response to major disasters and works with the Merck Medical Outreach Program to make decisions related to the Company’s donation of cash and/or medicines and vaccines in a disaster situation. For more information, please click here.

In conducting the MMOP, Merck adheres to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guidelines for Drug Donations ( PDF*), a set of principles established by WHO. Merck played an important role in the development of the Guidelines through our involvement in the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD), an alliance of PVOs and medical product manufacturers dedicated to raising standards of medical donations to meet the needs of underserved populations and disaster victims around the world. We also have worked with the United Nations and the World Economic Forum to develop the new Guiding Principles for Public/Private Collaboration for Humanitarian Action. ( PDF*)

The content on this page was last modified on September 15, 2009.

Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA, and Schering-Plough Corporation, Kenilworth, NJ, USA, are now one company. We have combined our global operations under the name Merck & Co., Inc. We are working to update our corporate responsibility Web site to reflect our new, combined, global organization.