Merck announces two million euros as support to India for Covid relief

Merck has extended its support to help India in its fight against COVID-19 and has announced two million euros (Rs17.85 crores) as a caring aid.

The aid is being utilised for procuring equipment of 250 oxygen concentrators, 100 ventilator units, and setting up oxygen generation plants in four hospitals. Merck India said that it is working with state governments, government departments and non-profit service organisations managing COVID care for putting this aid to use of people who may need it the most. A part of this aid will also be utilised to procure medicines for emergency care of employees and their families.

Sunil Punjabi, Country Speaker and Head of Research Solutions, Life Science said, “The second wave of COVID-19 infection has hugely impacted life and the economy. As an organisation our top priority in these challenging times is health and safety for all. While we remain committed to the safety of our employees, it is our responsibility to do our part to help ease the situation in the country. We are happy to extend this care and are confident that our aid will be supplementing the government’s efforts in addressing the need of the patients. We will continue to stand together for India, united by our clear commitment to fight the pandemic.”

A statement from the company informed, “Merck has also taken several measures around employee safety and support for COVID treatment. The company will vaccinate all the employees in India and up to three family members. Healthcare support is provided to employees and their families. On demise of an employee due to corona virus infection the company has announced that the surviving family will receive an additional financial package, health insurance cover until retirement age of the deceased and an education grant to support the education of the children until graduation.”

The statement also informed that as part of its regular CSR activities, Merck had earlier donated over 160,000 face masks, disinfectants and thermal temperature scanners to the frontline and health departments as well as dry rations to migrant worker families around its manufacturing sites. The company has also contributed to the state relief funds in the Karnataka and Maharashtra, and the PM Care fund, towards COVID relief.