Merck & Co eases its PAP drug access

Merck & Co has announced that changes will be made to its PatientAssistance Program, which has been going for some 50 years, that will allow easier access to medicines for low-income American citizens who lack pharmaceutical coverage in their health insurance. Merck's PAP offers medicines free of charge to low-income patients, regardless of age, who cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions. The company claims that, during 2001, the program aided over 350,000 individuals.

Merck says that it is broadening awareness of its scheme by making it easier to apply for assistance and through the promotion of the scheme to patients as well as doctors. The PAP offers the company's medicines free of charge with no targeted discounting or age restrictions. Merck has set the threshold for eligibility to citizens with an income below $18,000 ($24,000 for households) per year, a figure significantly lower than the $28,000 ($38,000 for households) offerings made by some other backers of similar discount schemes.