The following three principles guide our approach to providing financial support to medical, scientific and patient organizations:

1) Independence

Merck respects the independence of medical, scientific and patient organizations and refrains from using our financial support to influence the policies of organizations or to promote specific medicines. To support independence, Merck will support only organizations that obtain funding from a variety of sources.

2) Transparency

Merck supports transparency of our interactions with medical, scientific and patient organizations including financial support that we provide them. We believe this is an important step in building public trust with both Merck and those with whom we provide support. Making public our support also enhances the visibility of Merck's commitment to help advance health and science.

3) Compliance with Local Laws

In providing financial support to medical, scientific and patient organizations, Merck will comply with all relevant local laws and regulations.

As part of our commitment to these principles, Merck regularly reviews and updates our Code of Conduct to reaffirm our mission and commitment to scientific excellence, ethics and integrity. These principles are also reflected in the Company's corporate policies, procedures and guidelines, which every Merck employee is responsible for understanding and appropriately applying.

What Types of Payments Will be Publicly Disclosed?

In the United States, Merck has committed to disclosing the following payments of $500 or more, which we make to U.S. nonprofit organizations including medical, scientific and patient organizations:

• Continuing Education Grants – Grants in support of independent accredited educational programs for health care professionals.
• Patient Advocacy Organization Grants – Grants to support patient advocacy activities, programs and materials to improve public health through education, awareness and improved access to health care.
• Professional Society Grants – Grants to support the development of independent (non-accredited) education programs and materials.
• Public Policy Grants – Grants to promote public policies that foster an environment for innovation in the pharmaceutical industry and/or improve patient access to medicine.
• Quality Organization Grants – Grants to improve the quality of health care for patients and populations through consistent science and evidence-based recommendations to key health care stakeholders.
• Trade Association/Business Coalition Grants – Grants to enhance the overall knowledge of managed care issues.
• Publication Grants – Grants to support independent sponsored publications.
• International Grants – Grants made from Merck U.S. to other U.S. organizations for initiatives outside the United States.
• Academic/Scholarship Support – Grants to student or faculty members in an academic environment, including fellowships, scholarships and visiting professorships.
• Charitable Contributions – Grants to 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations used to support patient education and advocacy, improvements in patient care or general operating support (among other things) and contributions to charitable organizations or institutions to sponsor fundraising for a health care-related charitable cause or other community-based charitable initiatives. Outside the United States, this will include any cash or in-kind contributions to institutions for charitable or public health purposes, where permissible under local regulations.
• Business Expenses/Sponsorships – Grants made as membership fees. Grant support may allow Merck to sponsor exhibit space or an opportunity to conduct promotional activities at professional society meetings. In 2009, business expenses/sponsorship will be disclosed (<$50K) for medical and professional organization foundations 501(c) (3); trade associations and business coalition foundations 501(c) (3); trade associations and business coalitions; and patient advocacy organizations.
• Membership Dues – Payments made for membership fees (>$50K). In 2009, membership dues will be disclosed for patient advocacy organizations.
• Service Agreements – Service Agreements are contractual arrangements which include specific deliverables. Typically the third party is a "vendor" who provides such services as its core business. Sometimes these arrangements can also be classified as "non-independent grants." In 2009, Merck will disclose "Service Agreements" with patient organizations.

Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement

Merck has been an active member in the working group to develop the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) Code of Practice on Relationships between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Patient Organisations ( PDF* ), which became effective on July 1, 2008.

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.