Merck launches initiative to underscore importance of sustainable population growth in APAC

The initiative is designed to provide research and resources to support policymakers to identify policy interventions that will be effective in building family-friendly societies

Merck launched a new initiative, Fertility Counts, which seeks to address the social, economic and societal challenges associated with low birth rates in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The initiative is designed to provide research and resources to support policymakers to identify policy interventions that will be effective in building family-friendly societies.

The birth rates of many APAC countries have dramatically declined in the last 70 years, impacting both population size and structure. Across the region, the average number of children born per woman has dropped threefold since 1960, from 5.4 in 1960 to 1.8 in 2020,1 with some countries seeing even steeper drops. Although lower birth rates have led to enhanced social and economic opportunities for women across the region, many countries now face the challenge of maintaining economic growth with a declining workforce, and of balancing the needs of an ageing society.

“The trends we are seeing in fertility across the Asia-Pacific region will have long-term effects on all parts of society – the economy, the healthcare system, and on how the elderly are cared for in the future,” said Professor Kamthorn Pruksananonda, Chairman of Reproductive Medicine at the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. “We now need to seriously explore policy solutions that enable and support people who want to have children, to address the drivers behind falling birth rates.” 

The Fertility Policy Toolkit, designed by Economist Impact and supported by Merck, was guided by a panel of academic, clinical and public sector experts within the APAC region. The Toolkit focuses on four specific policy categories: childcare, workplace, financial incentives and assisted reproduction. Further, it provides guidance on which policies should be considered, as well as examples of how these policies can be implemented in countries based on their state of socio-economic development.

“Population trends have wide-reaching effects on society. With fewer children being born and life expectancy increasing, many countries must now balance the needs of an ageing population with a declining workforce. Among all this change, how do you build a society that can thrive and is sustainable for future generations? That is the question facing many countries in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Liz Henderson, Senior Vice President, APAC at Merck Group & Healthcare Sustainability Lead. “That is why we are delighted to launch Fertility Counts. We hope the resources provided through this initiative will support discussions, ignite change, and underscore how fertility does count for sustaining a country’s future.” 

A dedicated website for Fertility Counts has also launched – www.fertilitycounts.com – as a hub for the fertility policy toolkit, associated research, and future resources being developed.