Joint strategy to benefit human and animal health
The document under consultation outlines joint key priorities for the network.
Draft document outlines priorities for next five years
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have released the 'EU Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2020'.
The document focuses on areas where collaboration within the network can make a difference to human and animal health in Europe in the next five years.
It is presented, for the first time, as a single strategy for the entire network - reflecting the need for a coordinated approach.
Arranged under four key themes, the strategy focusses on:
- Human health
- Animal and human health in relation to veterinary medicines,
- Optimising the operation of the network
- The global regulatory environment
EMA and HMA say that the need to further strengthen the collaboration between the members of the network and work together towards achieving agreed goals has become more urgent in recent years.
"Europe faces the global threat of antibiotic resistance, and needs to be prepared for emerging epidemics," a spokesperson said. "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."
To view the Strategy visit www.ema.europa.eu. Stakeholders are invited to send their comments to EUnetworkstrategy@ema.europa.eu by 30 June 2015.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
