Around 57,000 employees in 66 countries work towards the common mission of making a positive difference in the lives of millions of people every day. Fulfilling this mission involves a wide range of activities – from advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices.

Merck encourages constant curiosity among its employees and this enables the group to make discoveries that can change the landscape of entire industries. The discoveries happen in five innovation hubs that foster innovation beyond the group’s pipeline aspirations, like artificial intelligence (AI) – enabled health solutions.

All of its innovations are dedicated to working “As One for Patients.” They aim to design the future of healthcare with treatment options for difficult diseases, improving and prolonging people’s lives. Towards this, it explores new AI-based technologies, products and services that could impact medical and healthcare industries across the value chain by increasing efficiency, saving costs and improving customer experiences.

The company has repeatedly stressed that the core of its being is “curiosity,” and that it has been so since 1668. In 2018, Merck celebrated 350 years of curiosity, which has powered its connection to partners and human progress; and is set to be the driving force in the challenging task of imagining Merck’s path for the next 350 years.

Commitment to Vietnam – an emerging market

Merck Vietnam was established in 1995 with the opening of a representative office. Vietnam was assessed as a fast-growing emerging market for healthcare systems among 14 Asia-Pacific nations.

A powerful example of Merck’s commitment to promoting good health and well-being in Vietnam is the conduct of many important, meaningful activities in 2019 and 2020 – the latter a year marked by the severe impacts of Covid-19. On October 30, 2019, Merck celebrated the important milestone of launching a project offering “Practical guidance on clinical pharmacology for pharmacists in some non-communicable diseases.” This is a national five-year project in which Merck is the unique partner of the Medical Service Administrative Department (MSA) under the Ministry of Health. The project is the first national guideline on clinical pharmacy practice drafted by leading national experts under the supervision of the Ministry of Health over the last one year. It plays an important part in the national program of “Improving the capacity of clinical pharmacy practice for pharmacists in a number of non-communicable diseases” for the 2018-2023 period.

In addition, Merck Vietnam collaborated with the Vietnam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology (VADE) to organize in Ho Chi Minh City the “Pre-diabetes Awareness Festival.” The festival marked the World Diabetes Day (November 14). The program was one of a series of events under the “Pre-diabetes – Change the future today” campaign, which also corresponds to Vietnam’s 2015-2025 national strategy to prevent non-communicable diseases. Also in November 2020, another meaningful activity was an event announcing results of the “Thyroid Change – For the women I love” project managed by the “Merck Family Fund”.

During two years, nearly 46,000 people received free screenings and examinations for thyroid diseases, which was organized under the supervision and management of the Merck Export GmbH Representative Office Vietnam. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Central Endocrine Hospital from August 2018 onwards at 16 hospitals across the country.

Hideko Ikeda, Managing Director of Merck Vietnam said: “As a global leader working in close cooperation with health organizations and medical associations in the world, our mission over the past 350 years has been to promote public health. For more than 25 years in Vietnam, we have been constantly accompanying the Vietnamese medical industry and hospitals in the country, promoting awareness among the community and staff. Today, Merck is proud of providing solutions for curing diseases, especially those related to thyroid and diabetes. Improving the health and well-being of the Vietnamese people is Merck’s success and pride in Vietnam.”

Merck Vietnam’s community activities are not limited to medical initiatives. During the historic flooding of the central region, Merck Vietnam’s staff handed over 200 gift packages that included blankets, winter jackets, rice and chicken breeds for poultry farms. Four families were given cash to help rebuild their houses.

Said Ikeda: “For more than 350 years, Merck has been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and it will continue to do so in the years to come.”

Phung Khuu