Partnership objectives
- Provide ongoing donations of medicines and vaccines to address specific unmet medical needs, primarily in developing markets.
- Provide humanitarian assistance in support of disaster and emergency relief.
The scope of MMOP varies from year to year and are influenced by changing medical needs in developing countries.
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Description of partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges
The MSD* Medical Outreach Program (MMOP) is the primary mechanism through which MSD** donates its pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer health products to a limited number of qualified, US-based, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for use in their on-going, humanitarian programs in the developing world and in support of major disaster relief efforts within the United States and abroad.
The scope of MMOP varies from year to year and is influenced by changing medical needs in developing countries. Through the MMOP, donations are made in response to specific requests from our NGO partners. These partners have expertise in the delivery of humanitarian aid and a track record of handling medicines responsibly. The NGOs work with local partners, including governments, communities, and other NGOs, to assess needs and formulate appropriate responses to acute and longer-term health crises.
In conducting the MMOP, MSD adheres to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guidelines for Drug Donations. MSD played an important role in the development of the guidelines through our involvement in the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD), an alliance of NGOs and medical product manufacturers dedicated to raising standards of medical donations to meet the needs of underserved populations and disaster victims around the world.
Summary of impact and forward looking information
In 2015, MMOP donated $31.1 worth of medicines and vaccines and $4.7 of disaster relief contributions. Donations of medicines and vaccines supported vaccination programs; provided disaster assistance, partner medical mission pack programs; and reached many thousands more worldwide through the ongoing medical programs of the NGOs with which MSD works. In 2015, the programme had reached over 78,000 people in 72 countries.
Examples include:
- COMVAX® vaccine donation valued at $1.3M for an immunization program in THE Dominican Republic.
- Donations of several MSD medicines to Merck Medical Outreach Program partners responding to the earthquake in Nepal.
*MSD is known as Merck in the U.S. and Canada.