Merck Consumer sponsors women's health global debate

DARMSTADT, Germany - Merck's Consumer Health business on Tuesday took the lead in addressing health and well-being challenges of women in different cultures and at different life stages. At the "Global Consumer Health Debate 2016," which took place at the company's global headquarters here, an international panel of academics, public health specialists, NGO leaders and business experts discussed with Merck senior executives how best to close the gap between the future vision of women's health and well-being and the current reality in countries across the globe.

 

"Women's health and well-being is at the center of our healthcare strategic priorities at Merck," stated Belén Garijo, member of the Merck executive board and CEO Healthcare. "As a leading provider of healthcare products and services, we sponsor several corporate responsibility initiatives aimed to help protect and improve the health status of our female employees as well as actively participate in worldwide private-public partnerships to address women's healthcare needs in developed and developing countries."

 

The basis for the debate was the Economist Intelligence Unit's white paper, sponsored by Merck Consumer Health, on "Women's Health and Well-Being: Evolving Definitions and Practices." The findings of the research, which focused on women, subject-matter experts and public health officials in India, Mexico, Brazil, France and Germany, were presented for the first time. 

 

"Women everywhere are taking significant steps to advance their lives; securing health and well-being is at the heart of this," commmented Uta Kemmerich-Keil, CEO and president of the Merck's Consumer Health business. "Interestingly, women across the world are often the caretakers of the health and well-being of their own families; and they educate their family members on this topic. Women also represent the majority of professionals in health care occupations, so they have broadest impact on improving health and well-being in our societies."

 

"The past two decades have shown that it pays to invest in women's health and well-being," noted Katja Iversen, CEO of U.S.-based Women Deliver. "We have seen tremendous improvements in some areas primarily in terms of being free from disease but also in optimizing women's opportunities and ensuring a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction with one's life. However, challenges remain, and progress has been uneven across regions and within countries, as shown by the data released today."

 

Angela Spatharou, partner and healthcare expertise leader for Latin America at McKinsey & Company in Mexico, acknowledged that industry has a critical role to play in closing the gap between women's wishes to improve their well-being, and their real life experiences highlighted in the EIU report by providing access to the best services, products and information. 

 

Following Tuesday's debate the Consumer Health business of Merck committed to continue sparking the discussion throughout 2016 on the themes of women's well-being in emerging and developed countries; the funding of women's health and well-being; access-to-health and well-being information; and policy programmes on women's health and well-being.