Reflection paper on the further involvement of patients and consumers in the Agency’s activities

The Management Board of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in December 2009, published its new strategy to further involve patients and consumers in the work of the Agency. The new strategy makes a number of proposals that considerably widen the scope of patients’ and consumers’ contribution to the Agency. This includes consultation during benefit-risk evaluation of medicines, participation as observers in meetings of the Pharmacovigilance Working Party and contribution to the Agency’s safety communication. The new strategy also foresees financial support to facilitate the participation of patients’ and consumers’ representatives.

• Primary Source

EMA: Working with patients and consumers (Leaflet, May 2010) http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Other/2010/03/WC500075353.pdf

EMA: Press Release: EMA/808539/2009 (17.12.09): European Medicines Agency's Management Board endorses the work programme 2010 and strengthens the involvement of patients in the work of the Agency http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2009/12/news_detail_000961.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1

---