Merck funds first diabetes study in Ghana

Emmanuel Bruce Apr - 08 - 2014 , 16:49

Merck, the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, has funded and completed the first ever study on diabetes in Africa.

The study, which has been christened the “Vision Diabetes Study” (VDS), was conducted in Ghana.

The President of Merck for North and West Africa, Mr Karim Bendhaou, said at a press conference to launch their first office in Ghana that the VDS was aimed at studying the socio demographical characteristics of diabetic patients in the country.

According to Mr Bendhaou, the findings will be published in a journal in the coming months.

Merck’s new office

The office, which is the company’s first branch in West Africa, is part of Merck’s strategy to grow its market share and enhance the delivery of safe and quality medicines in the country.

Speaking at the press conference, the Chairman of the Family Board of Merck, Mr Frank Stangenburg-Haverkamp, said the decision of Merck to extend its operations to Ghana was part of its agenda to provide sustainable access to high quality healthcare in the country.

He said Merck decided to have its office opened in Ghana because it was a strategic business location in Africa.

Mr Stangenburg-Haverkamp also explained that through the Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF), a charitable initiative funded by Merck, it was working together with the centre for Pharmaceutical Advancement and Training (CePAT) to fight against substandard and counterfeit drugs through the provision mini laboratories.

The Head of Middle East, Gulf and North/West Africa, Dr Faouzi Maudi, also stated that Merck had over the years instituted an award scheme for students offering pharmacy at the University of Ghana.

He said students who had won the awards over the years had had the opportunity to have practical studies at some of Merck’s laboratories.

The German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr John Ruediger, also called on other companies from Germany to come to Ghana to invest in the economy.