Our Responsibility
The Thalidomide tragedy and Grünenthal’s moral responsibility
“More than 60 years ago, Grünenthal's sleep aid and sedative Thalidomide affected the lives of thousands of children and their families – through physical impairments and associated health, social and everyday hardships. The past cannot be undone. This makes it all the more important to improve the living conditions today, and in the future, of those affected.”
Gabriel Baertschi
CEO, Grünenthal
The Grünenthal Foundation for the Support of Thalidomide-Affected People
The Grünenthal Foundation for the Support of Thalidomide-Affected People was established in 2012 to sustainably improve the lives of those affected by Thalidomide. It supplements state benefits with in-kind support that promotes self-determination and participation in everyday life. The focus is on barrier-free kitchen and bathroom conversions, vehicle adaptations and personal assistance for activities outside the home. The Foundation team is in constant dialogue with those affected in order to understand their changing needs and provide help where it is most urgently needed.
The services of the Grünenthal Foundation are available worldwide to all those affected, provided they are recognised by the German Contergan Foundation or by other institutions using comparable criteria – for example, the UK’s Thalidomide Trust. Applications can be submitted via the Foundation’s website.
Susanne Schmitt-Degenhardt
Contact for people affected by Thalidomide