BUSINESS: 532 PRACTICES
MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) is a global healthcare leader and among the largest pharmaceutical companies worldwide, working with customers in 140 countries and employing 74.000 people.
Read more: www.msd.gr
The “Mother & Child” program was created to provide healthcare services to pregnant women and infants from socially vulnerable groups (uninsured citizens, refugees, immigrants, minorities). Alongside, it provided free access to educational content on several issues of woman’s health and family planning, for Healthcare Professionals and women.
The program’s objective was to reach women in need, located in Greece, thus Greek population with limited or no access to healthcare services, ethnic groups living in deprived areas in Greece and of course refugees and immigrants.
During its 2-year implementation, the program aimed to provide healthcare services to 8.400 pregnant women and infants and education on maternal health issues to 480 healthcare providers.
Furthermore, the “Mother & Child” program objectives included:
• Ensure maternal health, protect newborns
• Access to family planning and social integration for the vulnerable groups of the beneficiary women who have limited or no access to healthcare services
• Development and distribution of educational content via e-learning platforms for healthcare professionals, public and private healthcare service providers, trainees, women ‘s associations and the general public
• Reduce social exclusion and develop solidarity
The “Mother & Child” program is part of the global initiative «MSD for Mothers», of the pharmaceutical company MSD, aiming to improve and protect the lives of pregnant women and infants, so that no woman dies during childbirth. Through this program and specialized partnerships, MSD seeks to provide better healthcare and innovative support to millions of people in the developed and developing world.
The “Mother & Child” program funding for the 2 year’s period reached the amount of 750.000 USD.
The “Mother & Child” program was created to provide healthcare services to pregnant women and infants that belong to socially vulnerable groups (uninsured citizens, refugees, immigrants, minorities). Alongside, it provided free access to educational content on several issues of women’s health and family planning, for Healthcare Professionals and women.
The program was implemented from May 2016 to May 2018.
The program’s objective was to reach women in need, located in Greece, thus Greek population with limited or no access to healthcare services, ethnic groups living in deprived areas in Greece and of course refugees and immigrants.
The “Mother and Child” program aimed to strengthen the access of women and infants to healthcare services. That was achieved through the existing infrastructure of the Doctors of the World in Greece (polyclinics in Athens, Perama, Piraeus, Patra, Thessaloniki and Chania and mobile units allover Greece with emphasis on Lesvos), in order to ensure increased “free” access to healthcare for women and newborns. Meanwhile, it offrered free access to educational content on family planning for healthcare professionals through an e-learning platform.
During the two years of the program implementation by the Doctors of the World, the following actions have been implemented:
• Provision of gynecological services to 42.399 women and pre-natal healthcare services to 3.742 pregnant women.
• Provision of pediatric services to 7.693 newborns and infants and distribution of 7.282 baby kits.
• 405 visits of the DoW mobile medical units at open shelters for refugees.
• Provision of gynecological services to the women of the Cara Tepe open shelter for refugees in Lesvos and coverage of prenatal tests for refugees and immigrants.
• Secured hosting for women after childbirth.
• Distribution of informational content in 5 languages: Greek, English, French, Arabic and Farsi.
• Education of 1.962 healthcare professionals via seminars but also via the e-learning platform http://mdmelearning.gr.
• Educational content development in six courses (breastfeeding, baby care, sexually transmitted diseases, urgent contraception, family planning, Pap test) and the edition of a manual with Prenatal Instructions for Healthcare professionals in Greek and English.
• Development of a survey on access to primary healthcare services from 14.000 participants of the program.
The “Mother and Child” program aimed to increase maternal and infant access to healthcare services. This was achieved through the support of the existing infrastructure of the Doctors of the World Organization in Greece (polyclinics in Athens, Perama, Piraeus, Patra, Thessaloniki and Chania, but also through the mobile units allover Greece, emphasizing on Lesvos), so that increased “free” healthcare access is ensured for women and babies.
The “Mother and Child” program was implemented in Greece by the Doctors of the World Greek chapter, as part of the global initiative MSD for Mothers.
MSD employees supported the “Mother and Child” program with voluntary activities.
The benefits for the Organization are of great importance and are mainly related to the improvement of the corporate image, the development of MSD’s profile as a social responsible company and the boosting of employees confidence and dedication.
On a local level, the company increased its dynamic as a coequal speaker on issues of patients’ access to quality healthcare services and shows its intention to solve an issue that has crucial social extensions, besides its healthcare aspect. The company discussed with key stakeholders on health topics and shows how the cooperation of the Non-Governmental Organization, the private and public sector can be extremely beneficiary to the state.
The company employees on a local level continue proud for the company’s participation in a program that protects pregnant women, mothers and their newborns. On a global level, employees recognize and praise MSD Greece for the support of thousands of women on their journey to birth.
