Privacy Policy
This policy was last updated on 20 October, 2010.
Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited ("MSD") is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and that it complies with its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.
This policy applies to personal information (as defined below) collected from MSD online resources and communications that display a link to this policy. This policy does not apply to third-party online resources to which MSD's websites may link, where MSD does not control the content or the privacy practices of such resources.
Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited is a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., of Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA ("Merck"). Personal information collected by MSD in the UK may be transferred outside of the European Economic Area ("EEA"), including to the USA. Merck has certified its adherence to the Safe Harbor framework for the transfer of personal information from the EEA to the USA. This policy is consistent with Merck's Safe Harbor Privacy Policy.
The term "personal information" as used throughout this policy, applies to any information or set of information that identifies or that is used by or on behalf of MSD to identify an individual.
Information we collect from you:
MSD collects personal information and other data that you may enter into forms or data fields on our websites or online resources. Such information may include, but not be limited to, contact information (such as your name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, user ID and password), date of birth, professional credentials, experiences, activities, skills, preferences and interests. MSD may also collect health information about you that you provide by responding to our questions and surveys or through your use of online and downloadable health-related tools we provide.
Consistent with the purposes identified and standards set within this policy and other applicable privacy notices that have been provided, in some cases MSD consolidates and uses personal information that individuals share with MSD through various services and channels, such as the telephone, surveys, websites and other online resources and communications, in order to enhance the quality of services that we offer.
Information collected from public or third party sources:
MSD may collect personal information about UK health care professionals who register on our websites from public or third party information sources to verify their professional credentials and identity. In some cases, we may augment our existing user databases with information from third parties. Some of this information may be personal information, such as change of postal address information.
Information collected from your computer or other electronic device:
We collect information about your computer or other electronic device when you visit our websites and use our online resources. This information may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, domain name, browser type, date and time of your request and information provided by tracking technologies, such as cookies and single-pixel tags. If you use a mobile device to access our websites and online resources, we also may collect information about your device, such as your device ID and device type, as well as usage information about your device and your use of our mobile websites and other mobile resources.
Some of our websites and other online resources use tracking technologies to provide additional functionality that enables you to use these resources more effectively. MSD uses tracking technologies in ways that do not identify you personally, such as to track accurately numbers of users or referring sites or advertisements to our online resources, or to remember whether you have identified yourself as a health care professional or a resident of a particular country. MSD may use other companies to deliver e-mail communications. MSD does not control the tracking technologies used by these other companies.
In some cases, MSD may use tracking technologies in ways that identify you personally, but only after you have entered personal information into a form or data field on our websites, or where we have registered you to use our online resources by providing a user ID and password based on information validated through other offline interactions with you. We may use tracking technologies to remember your personal preferences and selections, such as personal information that you have entered into data fields on our websites, answers that you have provided in response to our surveys, sections of our websites that you visit frequently, or to confirm whether you have read or clicked on certain e-mail communications we send to you so that we can make our communications more useful and interesting to you.
Uses made of information:
MSD collects personal information online as necessary to enable individuals to register for, customise and personalise certain of MSD's online resources and communications. MSD uses personal information collected online to provide products, services and features and other resources that individuals have requested; for example, educational literature and related information about MSD's pharmaceutical business, products, e-mail programs, tools, questionnaires, and surveys. MSD may analyse personal information collected online to identify and offer additional services and promotions that we believe you might find interesting. MSD evaluates use of some online resources and communications with non-identifiable or aggregate information only. MSD also may use personal information to audit its online resources for authorised access and security.
Personal information about you will be accessible to MSD, including its affiliates, divisions and groups worldwide, and to individuals and organisations that use personal information solely for and at the direction of MSD or Merck. Uses and disclosures of personal information by external individuals and organisations acting on MSD's behalf are governed by agreements that require personal information to be protected appropriately. Personal information about you only will be used and disclosed by MSD and individuals and organisations working on its behalf, in a manner consistent with this policy, other applicable privacy notices, and as explicitly permitted or required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. MSD reserves the right to disclose personal information about you for reporting to government authorities and otherwise to the extent required or explicitly authorised by applicable law.
Securing your personal information
MSD will take reasonable steps to protect personal information as it is transmitted from your computer to our online resources and servers, as well as to protect personal information in its possession from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction. It is your personal responsibility to secure your own copies of your passwords and related access codes for our online resources.
Contacting us
Should you wish to access personal information about you and to keep it accurate, complete and current, or if you have questions about this policy or MSD's information practices, you may contact us at the address below. When you contact us, please note the name of the website or other online resource you used or to which you provided personal information, as well as the nature of any information that you provided. We will use reasonable efforts to respond promptly to requests, questions or concerns you may have regarding access to personal information about you collected online or our use of personal information about you. We may contact you for follow up information and may share your inquiry with other individuals within MSD or working for MSD that are responsible for functions related to the subject of your inquiry. Except where required by law, MSD cannot ensure a response to questions or comments regarding topics unrelated to this policy or MSD's privacy practices.
Contact us:
The Privacy Officer
Legal Department
Hertford Road
Hoddesdon
Hertfordshire, EN11 9BU
Telephone: 01992 467272
Changes to this policy
MSD may update this policy periodically. MSD reserves the right to modify, add or remove portions of this privacy statement at its discretion. If we decide to change this policy, we will post the amended policy at this site or in some cases, may provide notice of the changes by e-mail.