European Medicines Agency Watch [to 4 April 2015]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/

:: European Medicines Agency and Heads of Medicines Agencies consult on common network strategy to 2020
31/03/2015
Making a difference to human and animal health
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have released the ‘EU Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2020’, a draft common strategy to 2020 for the European medicines agencies network, for a three-month public consultation…

The need to further strengthen the collaboration between the members of the network and work together towards achieving agreed goals has become more urgent recently. Europe faces the global threat represented by antimicrobial resistance to human and animal health, and needs to be prepared for emerging epidemics, as reminded by the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa in March 2014. At the same time the healthcare needs of patients in Europe are changing. Advancements in science and medicine mean that new and more complex medicines are being developed, which may bring opportunities for personalised medicines and more treatments for rare diseases. Patients also require timely access to new, beneficial and safe medicines. The globalisation of the pharmaceutical industry means that greater collaboration with regulators beyond the European Union (EU) is essential to assure the supply of safe, effective and good quality medicines for humans and animals.

The joint strategy for the European medicines agencies network is based on a coordinated approach and a strengthened collaboration within the network over the next five years, to address the challenges and make the most of the opportunities to benefit human and animal health.

The network is unique in the global regulatory environment. It includes all national medicines regulatory authorities for both human and veterinary medicines from EU Member States and the European Economic Area (EEA), united in the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). By working closely together, the network can draw on the resources and expertise available across the EU, avoid duplication and share workloads.

The draft strategy focuses on areas where collaboration within the network can make a real difference to human and animal health in the European Union over the next five years. It builds on the EMA roadmap to 2015 and the HMA strategy document 2011-15.

The draft network strategy is arranged under four key themes focusing on:
– human health
– animal health and human health in relation to veterinary medicines
– optimising the operation of the network
– the global regulatory environment…

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European Union Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2020 – Working together to improve health
EMA/MB/151414/2015 – draft: consultation open
Consultation end date 30/06/2015
Summary
This document outlines the high level strategy for the network for the next five years. It is presented, for the first time, as a single strategy for the entire network to reflect the need for a coordinated approach to address the multiple challenges and opportunities that face the network. Advances in science affect the nature of the products we regulate and the network must support new and innovative developments that contribute to public health.
Submission of comments template – EU Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2020 – Working together to improve health (31/03/2015)