Companies Come to the Aid of Haiti Relief Efforts

It didn’t take long after Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake for America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies to come to the country’s aid. As of this writing, more than $25 million in medicines, medical supplies and cash has been donated to relief efforts, and that amount will undoubtedly continue to rise as these and other companies contribute through both organizational donations and pledges to match employee donations. According to Billy Tauzin, CEO and president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), “The day the news broke about the tragedy in Haiti, America’s biopharmaceutical companies got to work — coordinating efforts with relief organizations and healthcare groups already on the ground — making sure everything from simple antibiotic creams to critical medicines were made accessible to victims.”

Indeed, the list of companies is long and the amount of the donations impressive:

• Through its Foundacion Probitas, a program established in 2008 by Grifols, the company has donated approximately $1.4 million in health materials, including intravenous serum, blood bags and plasma products, such as albumin and specific gammaglobulins.
• GlaxoSmithKline has donated medicines valued at $1.4 million. In addition, the company has committed approximately $408,000 to the British Red Cross to help meet the water and sanitation needs of those affected by the disaster.
• Immediately following the earthquake, Novartis shipped 10 pallets of medicine (antibiotics and analgesics) worth approximately $1.5 million. The company also has pledged more than $2.5 million for direct financial support for relief organizations operating in Haiti, as well as donations of essential medicines.
• Novo Nordisk has donated more than $90,000 to support the relief work of the Danish Red Cross in Haiti. In addition, the company supported the relief organization Project Hope by donating 50,000 vials of insulin.
• Sanofi-aventis has committed $1.4 million in financial aid to long-term reconstruction initiatives and the rehabilitation of the Haiti population. Its initial contribution was to commit $140,000 and considerable donations of medicines and vaccines, which it continues to do. The company also is matching employee donations.
• Bayer provided immediate relief in the form of medicines worth approximately $125,000 to the Red Cross in the Dominican Republic to enable it to be distributed quickly.Bayer also is matching all employee donations.
• Merck made an initial contribution of $450,000 to assist relief efforts. The company also is donating needed medicines through its Merck Medical Outreach Program, and through its partners, it has shipped $2.6 million in market value of donated Merck products. And, it has a gift program to match employees’ financial donations.
• BaxterInternational has committed $1 million to support disaster relief efforts, including $350,000 in grants to support both immediate, acute-care and longerterm needs in the region. Its Employee DisasterRelief Matching Gift Program will match employee contributions.