Access to Medicines, Vaccines and Quality Health Care
While research and development are fundamental to our business success, we know it also is critically important to help make our medicines and vaccines available to the people who need them. Throughout our history, Merck has devoted considerable effort to bringing our medicines and vaccines, expertise and experience to people around the world.
"We cannot step aside and say that we have achieved our goal by inventing a new drug or a new way by which to treat presently incurable diseases, a new way to help those who suffer from malnutrition, or the creation of ideal balanced diets on a worldwide scale. We cannot rest till the way has been found, with our help, to bring our finest achievement to everyone."
— George W. Merck, 1950
Improving access is about more than simply making our medicines and vaccines available. The most important factors for long-term sustainability are strengthening health care infrastructure, ensuring adequate financing for health and helping to build local health care capacity through training and support.
Pharmaceutical companies alone cannot solve the immense public health problems we face globally. Sustainable solutions will come from comprehensive targeted approaches that draw on the expertise of all stakeholders. For this reason, Merck has pioneered extensive efforts to increase access to medicines, vaccines and quality health care through a number of far-reaching programs and partnerships.
To learn more about Merck's performance in this area, click on the links below:
