MERCK
After two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, results from a European survey reveal that more than half of Europeans rate their physical health as good or very good - with a quarter of respondents reducing their alcohol and drug consumption and one in five saying they eat a healthier diet. Although 45% of Europeans rate their mental health as good or very good, 23% of the youngest (18-29 years old) say they have needed psychological help during the pandemic.
These are just some of the major findings from the "Merck Survey: Europeans' perception of health two years after the start of Covid 19" ; a survey of 6,000 people aged 18 to 65 from ten countries (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and Switzerland) that the science and technology company Merck carried out with the technical support of GAD3.
"This pandemic has triggered the biggest health, social and economic crisis in almost a century and - from the perspective of having overcome the most critical months of it - in Merck we wanted to know its impact on the health and lifestyle of Europeans,” says Marieta Jiménez, Senior Vice President of Merck Healthcare in Europe. " We believe that only by getting closer and asking people what they feel, think and need can we provide answers to the different health challenges. A healthy society is the basis for building a stronger, safer and more prosperous society," she adds.
The survey shows that Europeans (especially Italians, Spaniards and Portuguese) consider that the pandemic has helped them to talk openly in their personal and professional environment about their physical and mental health. In addition, one in three Europeans say that it has improved family coexistence and feelings of solidarity (34% and 33% respectively). Family co-existence was reported as a particular benefit by more Spaniards ad Czechs than in any other European country surveyed (42% and 45% respectively).
In contrast, the survey emphasizes the weight of emotional problems arising from the pandemic. The results show that 26% of all Europeans have developed a fear of physical contact with other people and 23% of young people surveyed have needed psychological help . Stress and anxiety, followed by fear and uncertainty, are the feelings that have affected more than a third of Europeans (38% and 33%, respectively).
When compared to the European average, stress and anxiety have affected countries such as Spain, Poland and Portugal more, while fear and uncertainty have particularly affected Spain, Italy and Portugal. Germany, Spain, the UK and Poland are the countries most affected by loneliness.
New times, new habits
The pandemic has also boosted the use of new health technologies. The Merck survey concludes that seven out of ten Europeans say they are comfortable or increasingly comfortable with telemedicine. Although most Europeans continue to prefer face-to-face consultations after the health crisis, people from Portugal, France and Italy reported a current preference for telemedicine vs. face-to-face consultations.
The survey further reveals that almost a quarter (24%) of Europeans say they have reduced their alcohol and drug consumption and one in five say they now eat a healthier diet.
Furthermore, only one in ten Europeans have postponed their plans to build or grow a family after the pandemic. People from the Czech Republic and Italy have postponed their intention to have children the most after the pandemic (14% and 15% respectively).
High recognition for health professionals
The study also probes opinions about the work of different health and science professionals during the pandemic. All countries recognize the good work of health personnel. In fact, 70% of Europeans rate the work of health workers and researchers as good or very good. Even so, it is worth noting that the performance of pharmacists during the pandemic was the most highly rated in all countries (compared to doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers) and they were the most highly rated in countries such as Spain and the Czech Republic.
When asked about what should be improved in the health system, 6 out of 10 European countries surveyed agree on the need to invest more in preventive medicine and public health, followed by primary care and mental health. Germans prefer researching new medicines over all other areas, while the British attach greater importance to mental health and the Poles call for greater primary care along with the Spanish.
Which diseases do Europeans fear the most?
In addition, the “ Merck Survey: Europeans' perception of health two years after the start of Covid 19” also points out that 75% of Europeans think that the health crisis has affected the normal course of cancer treatments. Cancer is the most feared disease in the wake of the pandemic, followed by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, and cardiovascular diseases.
“We are living unprecedented times and as a curious company we need to prioritize more than ever the value of science and professionals working in the service of health," emphasizes François Feig, Senior Vice President Mid Europe Healthcare at Merck. “This ambitious survey sheds light on the feelings of Europeans about their health after two years of living with Covid and I believe that this information will allow all of us who put our efforts in the service of people's health and well-being to better understand their needs . ”
To access the Merck Survey, please follow this link .
About Merck
Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck generated sales of € 17.5 billion in 66 countries.
Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211125005676/en/
Link:
Social Media:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
MultiBank Group Confirms $MBG Token TGE Set for July 22, 202512.7.2025 11:14:00 CEST | Press release
MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution has officially announced that the Token Generation Event (TGE) for its highly anticipated $MBG Token will take place on July 22, 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250712404220/en/ MultiBank Group has officially announced that the Token Generation Event (TGE) for its highly anticipated $MBG Token will take place on July 22, 2025. This milestone will mark the full activation of the $MBG Token on the blockchain, enabling holders to view and manage their balances across supported platforms. Following the token minting, users will be able to trade $MBG via MultiBank.io, the Group’s regulated crypto exchange and Uniswap, the world’s leading decentralized platform. The $MBG Token has garnered global attention for its rare combination of real-world utility, institutional backing, and strong deflationary mechanics. It is underpinned by $29 billi
Elegen and Nutcracker Therapeutics to Pilot First Fully Cell-Free Manufacturing Process for RNA-based Personalized Cancer Therapeutics11.7.2025 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
Fully cell-free process aims to further democratize personalized cancer therapeutic manufacturing with shorter turnaround times and negligible bioburden and endotoxin risks. Elegen, a global leader in next-generation DNA manufacturing, and Nutcracker Therapeutics, a global leader in next-generation RNA design and manufacturing, today announced the launch of a pilot program to demonstrate the industry’s first fully synthetic, cell-free manufacturing platform for RNA-based personalized cancer therapeutics (PCTs). The pilot marks another step toward making PCTs more accessible, timely, and scalable. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250711152688/en/ As late-stage PCT clinical trials progress and therapy developers work to create the next generation of PCTs, the speed, reliability, scaling and cost of traditional production methods pose a major challenge. Specifically, the first step of DNA template production is hi
$MBG Token Pre-Sale Set for July 15 — Only 7 Million Tokens Available at $0.3511.7.2025 10:17:00 CEST | Press release
MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution headquartered in Dubai, has confirmed that its highly anticipated $MBG Token pre-sale will go live on July 15, with demand expected to be intense. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250711737311/en/ With only 7 million $MBG tokens up for grabs at an exclusive entry price of $0.35, this is a rare opportunity to secure early access to what many are calling the year’s most powerful utility asset. With only 7 million tokens up for grabs at an exclusive entry price of $0.35, this is a rare opportunity to secure early access to what many are calling the year’s most powerful utility asset. Early participants can join simultaneously on MultiBank.io, the Group’s regulated crypto exchange, and Uniswap, the world’s leading decentralized platform. Supported by $29 billion in real assets and powered by over $35 billion in daily turnover, $MBG is engineered
Live Story Raises €2.7 Million to Revolutionize the Digital Experience11.7.2025 10:05:00 CEST | Press release
With a round led by Vertis, the next-generation CMS platform accelerates its focus onAI, performance, and European expansion. Target: surpass €10M in recurring revenueby 2027. Live Story, the tech company founded by Stefano Mocellini, has closed a €2.7 million seed round led by Vertis, one of Italy’s leading early-growth venture capital firms. The funding will support the company’s international expansion and technological development, with a clear goal: to exceed €10 million in annual recurringrevenue by 2027. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250711335560/en/ “We invested in Live Story because it addresses one of the major inefficiencies in digital commerce: the slow and rigid management of visual and narrative content,” says Alessandro Pontari, Partner at Vertis SGR. “The platform helps brands drastically reduce their time-to-market through a visual CMS that integrates seamlessly with any tech stack. In a wor
With a Score of 84 out of 100, Sagemcom Is Awarded the EcoVadis Platinum Medal: a Prestigious Recognition of its CSR Commitment11.7.2025 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
Sagemcom Group is proud to announce that it has been awarded, for the third time, the Platinum Medal by EcoVadis, the highest distinction granted by the leading global platform for assessing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance. This medal places Sagemcom in the top 1% of companies evaluated worldwide, across all industries. With a score of 84 out of 100, Sagemcom reaffirms its position as a committed leader in ecological transition, business ethics, sustainable supply chain management, and social responsibility. “The EcoVadis Platinum Medal is more than just an award — it is the recognition of our collective efforts to embed sustainable development principles at the heart of our corporate strategy and culture,” says Sylvaine Couleur, Executive Vice President, CSR & Communication. “Achieving this level demonstrates that our commitments are tangible, impactful, and internationally recognized. This distinction strengthens our determination to further advance and expand our C
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom