Ranchi, India, July 5, 2023: Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Hemant Soren, flagged
off Mobile Medical Units in partnership with MSD Pharmaceuticals and Smile Foundation. Shri
Banna Gupta, Minister of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare; Shri Rajesh Kachhap,
MLA Khijri; Shr. Ramachandra Singh, MLA Manika; Shri Arun Kumar Singh, Additional Chief
Secretary, Department of Health, Medical Education & Family Welfare; Smt. Vandana Dadel,
Principal Secretary to the CM; Shri Alok Trivedi, Mission Director National Health Mission,
Jharkhand were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.

The program, called ‘Smile on Wheels,’ aims to support the districts of West Singhbhum,
Sahebganj, Chatra, Dumka & Garhwa in Jharkhand benefiting more than 2 lakh people. The
initiative will reach nearly 60 villages across these districts. The program’s primary objective is
to strengthen and supplement the government’s healthcare system and enhance accessibility,
availability and affordability of quality primary healthcare services in rural areas.

Each mobile medical unit will be equipped with qualified doctors, para-medical staff, point-of-
care and diagnostic services, and medicines. It will provide free OPD services and medicines,
improve the health status of pregnant and lactating mothers, raise awareness about
immunization, antenatal/postnatal care, and support access to secondary and tertiary
healthcare. These efforts aim to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare, vulnerability
to diseases, and promote health-seeking behaviour. It will seek to improve maternal health,
promote institutional deliveries, increase diagnostic rates, and improve overall community
health.

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Hemant Soren said, “I believe that information,
awareness, compassion, along with a proper system are crucial to make healthcare available to
people. I am sure that innovative and collaborative programme such as this will complement our
efforts.”

Rehan A. Khan, Managing Director, MSD Pharmaceuticals India said, “At MSD, we want to
improve the health of the people. We are pleased to partner with the government in our shared
mission of enhancing healthcare access. This collaborative effort between the government,
MSD Pharma and SMILE Foundation underscores the importance of working together to
address healthcare challenges and improve the well-being of citizens.”
Neelima Dwivedi, Executive Director – Public Policy, Communications & Market Access, MSD
Pharmaceuticals India said, “Through our community interventions, our aim is to improve
access to healthcare across the country by strengthening and supplementing the government’s
efforts especially in the aspirational districts called out by the NITI Aayog. We are confident that these initiatives will make a huge impact and help improve the health and lives of people in
these districts.”

Santanu Mishra, Co-founder & Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation said, “Promoting good
health and well-being, as enshrined in Sustainable Development Goals – 3 is a crucial element
in the nation’s growth. We are glad to play a significant role in complementing the governmental
efforts in Jharkhand.”

Vikram Singh Verma, Executive Director of Smile Foundation said, “We are thankful to MSD
Pharmaceuticals India for their support and grateful to the Government of Jharkhand for the
opportunity and confidence in us to help deliver crucial healthcare services at the grassroot. I
am sure that our healthcare experience across India will be useful in achieving our collective
mission.”

The Smile on Wheels program deploys well-equipped mobile medical units with specialized
doctors, nurses, medical staff, and medicines to villages and underserved communities,
ensuring crucial access to healthcare services. The program’s objective is to ensure improved
healthcare services reach the doorstep of people residing in unserved or underserved areas.

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About MSD Pharmaceuticals

For 130 years, MSD has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for
many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve
lives. MSD is a trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A.
We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to
health care through far-reaching policies, programs, and partnerships. Today, MSD continues to
be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals —
including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases —
as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For
more information, visit www.msd.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million
children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education,
healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and slums in 25
states.

Please visit www.smilefoundationindia.org

Media Contacts:

MSD Pharmaceuticals
Shibani Shah: [email protected]
Krisha Doshi: [email protected]

Smile Foundation:
Sandip Nayak: [email protected]