Fertility benefit programme offered at Cork company

A CORK company has announced the introduction of a Fertility Benefit Programme for employees.

Merck, who have a base in Carrigtwohill, has introduced the programme available to employees as part of a nationwide initiative.

The programme, which was first introduced in nine markets in October, is now available in 20 markets worldwide, and covers a breadth of services including fertility tests, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments, and hormonal treatments. The programme does not cover adoptions or surrogacy.

The Fertility Benefit is available to eligible employees and their partners, regardless of marital status and sexual orientation.

Site Director and head of Cork operations at Merck, Mark Dunphy said: “Across the globe, one in six people will face infertility. As a long-standing leader in fertility, we understand the financial and emotional toll this journey can have on individuals and families.

“We are pleased that the Fertility Benefit Programme has launched in Ireland, allowing us to support our people as they strive to realise a dream of parenthood.”

Executive chair and CEO of Merck, Belén Garijo said: “The expansion of our Fertility Benefit Programme demonstrates this strong commitment to helping those who want to build a family. We are pioneers in the fertility space and are thrilled to provide this opportunity to a growing number of Merck families.”

Merck has grown to be the global market leader in therapies for fertility treatment, with an estimated five million babies born with the help of Merck products.

This represents around half of all babies born through medically assisted reproduction since the first baby conceived through IVF in 1978.