Merck's commitment to ethics extends beyond the Company's boundaries. We actively promote the development of codes and standards for ethical and transparent business practices that can help limit corruption, ensure fair and open competition and encourage a better business environment, which are essential to economic growth and improved standards of living.
Merck also seeks to make a difference in the global business environment by supporting Transparency International and other organizations that work to eliminate corruption, promote transparency and foster the principles outlined in the OECD Conventions against Corruption and Bribery.
In addition to these efforts, Merck recognizes the need to encourage the development of codes and standards for ethical business practices in other countries, similar to those that Merck follows. Below are a few examples of our work in this area.
Ethics Centers
In 1995, The Merck Company Foundation entered into collaboration with the Washington-based Ethics Resource Center (ERC) to establish a series of independent ethics centers in various regions around the world. The centers facilitate dialogue and action related to ethical business and organizational issues of importance in the countries where the centers are located.
The first center to open was the Gulf Centre for Excellence in Ethics in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1998. Led by a local director, the Gulf Centre developed a code of ethics for the UAE Ministry of Health and has conducted educational seminars for military, government and corporate entities. In 2004, the UAE center moved to Dubai and was renamed the Dubai Ethics Resource Centre. It is now housed within the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Along the way the Centre has overcome its share of challenges and setbacks associated with introducing new approaches to ethics in the region. Today, however, the Centre is rapidly becoming an effective voice for ethics in the UAE.
Since the Dubai Ethics Resource Centre first opened its doors, Merck has partnered with local organizations to launch additional ethics centers in South Africa, Colombia and Turkey. Each supports the work of governments, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector in their efforts to foster a fair, transparent and open environment for business. The centers operate as facilitators of dialogue and action around ethical business and organizational issues of importance to the countries in which the centers have been established.
Although currently supported financially by grants from The Merck Company Foundation to the Ethics Resource Center, each national center is managed by an executive director who is independent of either organization and from any other organization representing either the public or private sectors.
In addition to the Dubai Ethics Resource Centre, the other three centers include:
Ethics Institute of South Africa (EthicSA) - Launched in November 2000, the initial focus of this center is health care. EthicSA is managed by a world-renowned ethicist, with oversight by a distinguished Board of Directors with members from academe, business and the health sector. In its first 18 months, EthicSA conducted a survey of doctors' business practices and an ethics audit of a major public hospital, wrote general ethical guidelines for doctors, made numerous presentations and published papers internationally. Early in 2002, EthicSA completed its strategic business plan for the next phase of development: 2003-2007.
Transparencia por Colombia - Launched in Bogota in May of 2001, Transparencia began as a joint venture between The Merck Company Foundation, Fundación Corona and Transparency International Colombia. Corporate members include: Fundación Exito, Organization Corona, Ethics Resource Center, BellSouth Colombia SA, Fundación Suramericana, Unisys de Colombia SA, Fundación Compartir, Banco Davivienda SA, Harinera del Valle, Hewlett Packard, Hocol SA, Banco Santander, Sun Microsystems de Colombia SA, Compania de Seguros Bolivar SA, La Alqueria SA, Banco Colpatira Multibanca, Compania Nacional de Chocolates and Branch of Microsoft Colombia, Inc. The center is currently engaged in developing ethics programs for larger domestic enterprises, small and medium companies and trade associations; and a business ethics curriculum for a consortium of universities focusing on contemporary challenges in Colombia.
The Turkish Ethics Values Center (TEDMER) - This fourth and newest center was officially launched in January 2003 in Istanbul. The goal of TEDMER is to conduct research in the area of ethics, offer support and services to institutions and organizations seeking to implement ethics programs, define corporate ethical codes, and create benchmarks and standards. One of the more innovative programs of TEDMER is to work with a variety of universities in Turkey to create "ethics clubs." The purpose of these clubs is for students to understand the value of ethics in organizations, and to allow them to take these values as they transition from school to work.
To learn more about Merck's values and standards, click on the links below:
