At Merck, our business is discovering and developing medicines and vaccines that can make a difference in people's lives. As a publicly-held, research-based pharmaceutical company, our primary contribution is discovering, developing and delivering breakthrough medicines and vaccines that address unmet medical needs. But our mission also entails something more -contributing to the health and well-being of the people who take our medicines, as well as meeting the needs of our employees, neighbors and others in the global communities where we live and work.

Acting in a responsible manner over the long term serves the best interests of the people our programs benefit, as well as our shareholders. By doing the right thing, we further enhance our Company's reputation, our ability to play a constructive role in advancing good public policy, customer trust and, as a result, the opportunity to achieve our business goals. We recognize that, more than ever before, companies, investors, government and the public are interested in how businesses conduct themselves, and want companies to actively demonstrate their commitment to good corporate citizenship.

Improving global health is one of the single most important contributions we can make to economic development around the world. Doing so requires stable political and economic institutions and enduring partnerships among the private sector, governments and nongovernmental institutions. These partnerships are the foundation of the Company's approach to corporate responsibility.

Our commitments have long been guided by the vision of George W. Merck, the Company's modern-day founder, who believed in the importance of putting patients first. George Merck's words are reflected in the way we conduct our business:

• Company decisions are driven by what is right for patients. Merck maintains high ethical standards and a culture that fosters honesty, integrity and transparency - even under the most challenging circumstances.
• Merck strives to improve the health of people worldwide through medicines and vaccines to address unmet medical needs and improve prevention and treatment of diseases.
• Merck strives to ensure that patients have access to medicines and vaccines for the prevention and treatment of disease. We accomplish this in part by supporting innovative programs and partnerships that strengthen health care infrastructure. We also support science education and other initiatives to help build the capacity and know-how needed to improve health care, and we publish credible, unbiased health care information for patients and health care providers on a not-for-profit basis.
• We conduct our business in ways that ensure a safe and healthy environment for our employees and for the communities in which we operate.

Implementing Mechanisms

Good corporate citizenship is integrated across all Merck regions and divisions. We implement a wide range of programs - whether in the areas of environmental responsibility, access to medicines and medical information, community involvement or employee development - through specific functions at the local, national and regional levels.

Merck has many Corporate Policies pertaining to various aspects of how the Company conducts business, which apply to all Company business units worldwide. Additionally, policies and procedures related to specific aspects of divisional, regional and country functions, apply to each of those business units. Specific policies also apply to managerial activities of the Company's U.S. managers.

Policies related to corporate responsibility at Merck are implemented worldwide through mechanisms that include:

• The Merck Office of Ethics
• The Merck Office of Diversity and Work Environment
• The Environment, Safety and Health Advisory Committee (ESHAC)
• Office of General Counsel

Philanthropy at Merck

Philanthropy is one important aspect of our corporate responsibility. In 2004, for example, Merck's philanthropic contributions totaled just over $1 billion in cash contributions and product donations. We also provide technical expertise and program management for a range of programs and partnerships.

On a global level, we have put specific systems in place to help us meet our objectives in this area. These include The Merck Company Foundation for cash contributions and the Merck Office of Contributions for corporate cash contributions and product donations. To learn more about corporate philanthropy at Merck, click here.