Merck has extended its support to help India in its fight against COVID-19 and has announced 2 million Euros (Rs 17.85 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 is working with state governments, government departments and non-profit service organisations managing Covid care for putting this aid to use for people who may be needing 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 says, “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.”

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. On the demise of an employee due to coronavirus infection the company has announced that the surviving family will receive an additional financial package, health insurance cover until the retirement age of the deceased and an education grant to support the education of the children until graduation.