KENILWORTH, N.J., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Schering-Plough Corporation today announced the launch of a long-term plan to identify and address broad societal issues as part of the company's strategic business process. "By the nature of our business, social issues are integral to the pharmaceutical industry," said Chairman and CEO Fred Hassan. "Our industry has a special responsibility because drugs are essential to prolonging and improving the quality of life. Our new plan will enable us to identify pressing social issues, respond appropriately and maximize the impact of the resources we can bring to bear." Current priorities to be addressed under Schering-Plough's plan (not in rank order) are: * Patient safety; * Access to medicines for patients who are indigent, disadvantaged or among the working poor; * Ethical practices in sales, marketing, clinical research, and supplier management; * Human rights, including living wage, health benefits for workers and no child labor; * Security, occupational health and safety, and the environment; * Diversity, both at the Board of Directors level and in the workforce; and * Corporate governance. The plan will be integrated with the company's business planning and implementation processes. The plan will be aligned with the company's overall strategies for driving long-term growth and stewardship of shareholder investments. The Company's Board of Directors was actively engaged in the development of the plan and will continue to be engaged as it evolves. Cathy Rowan, representing members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, said, "As a faith-based institutional investor, I am encouraged by the steps the Schering-Plough Board of Directors has taken to establish a social action agenda. A board that is fully versed in social risks can better minimize conflicts, protect the company's value, and help the company diminish exposure to unpredictable social issues. Creating robust patient assistance programs, addressing the realities of the uninsured in the United States -- who are overwhelmingly working poor -- and tackling other key social issues will not be easy. But it has the potential to strengthen the company and set the course to build a stronger company for the future. Members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility welcome the opportunity for ongoing dialogue." Added Damon Silvers, Associate General Counsel of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO): "As long-term investors, we appreciate Schering-Plough's interest in improving its corporate governance and social responsibility policies, and will be following the outcomes of its social issues strategy and action plan closely." Schering-Plough is a global science-based health care company with leading prescription, consumer and animal health products. Through internal research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough discovers, develops, manufactures and markets advanced drug therapies to meet important medical needs. Schering-Plough's vision is to earn the trust of the physicians, patients and customers served by its more than 32,000 people around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is http://www.schering-plough.com/. DATASOURCE: Schering-Plough Corporation CONTACT: Media: Rosemarie Yancosek, +1-908-298-7476, or Steve Galpin, Jr., +1-908-298-7415, or Investors: Alex Kelly, +1-908-298-7436, all of Schering-Plough Corporation Web site: http://www.schering-plough.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/777050.html

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