Merck Foundation Cancer Access Program

Merck Foundation Cancer Access Program is part of Merck Foundation’s commitment to improve patient’s access to quality and equitable cancer care in underserved communities.

The lack of financial means is not the only challenge in Africa and developing countries, but a scarcity of trained health care personnel capable to tackle the prevention, early diagnosis and management of cancer at all levels of the health care systems is even a bigger challenge.

Therefore, the program consists of three initiatives to enhance cancer care on all relevant levels: 

• Merck Foundation Oncology Fellowship Program: Master Degree, Fellowships and Specialty Training focus on building Professional Cancer Care Capacity with the aim to increase the limited number of Oncologists in Africa. It provides One, two and three year Fellowship, Diploma and Master degree programs for African doctors. The clinical training is conducted in India, Egypt and Kenya, in partnership with African Ministries of Health, Local Governments and Academia. Also, scholarships for two-year online PG Diploma in Cancer and Clinical Oncology and one-year online PG Diploma in Medical Oncology from reputed universities in the UK are provided.

We are striving to form Multidisciplinary Oncology Care teams in many countries by providing Hands on Clinical training in multiple sub-specialties such as Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Gyneac Oncology, Pediatric Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pain & Palliative Care Medicine, Hematology Oncology, Interventional Radiology, Breast Surgery, Head & Neck Oncology, Radiation Technician, Oncology Nursing, Laboratory Technician, Cytoscreening training & Oncology Research.

• Merck Foundation More Than a Patient empowers women cancer survivors to reclaim their lives by reintegration into society.

• Merck Foundation Community Awareness shares accurate cancer information to help in tackling myths, misconception and stigma through through medical camps and digital media.

Impact