You can subscribe to receive the EAHP EU Monitor by email here [1]. [1]
The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) has launched its 2014 survey on medicines shortages in Europe [2].
It will be open for 7 weeks, closing at midnight CET on 7th May 2014.
More information here [3].
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published its work progamme for 2014 which includes enhancing the functionalities of the Eudravigilance [4] database of adverse drug reactions, addressing the issue of antimicrobial resistance and continuing implementation of its action plan on medicines shortages.
The first priority of the agency remains the evaluation of pan-European marketing authorization applications of new human medicines [5].
Defined objectives for 2014 in this area include:
Supporting parallel HTA scientific advice, and new approaches for stem-cell technology and nanotechnologies are also explicitly mentioned targets for 2014.
In a newer area of EMA activity, its responsibilities for pharmacovigilance [6] under a 2010 Directive, the Agency will aim to:
In other areas, the EMA’s workplan for 2014 commits to:
Furthermore, the Agency will seek to “improve the EU process for handling GMP non-compliance situations, including related supply shortages, and its interaction with global regulatory partners.”
On the contested issue of clinical trial result transparency, the EMA undertakes to launch a new policy “on proactive publication of clinical trials, considering the outcomes of the [European] court case and legislative proposals [i.e. the proposed EU Clinical Trials regulation].”
More information here [7]:
In the first of a series of summaries, this week’s EAHP EU Monitor picks out highlights from policy manifestos published ahead of the European Parliament elections in May.
We start with those communicated by European patient organisations.
European Patients Forum
The European Patients’ Forum [8] is the primary umbrella representative organization for the patient interest in Europe, counting 150 million patients among its remit. It makes 3 broad calls to individuals standing for election to the next European Parliament:
1. Equal and timely access to safe, effective diagnosis, treatments and support
2. Better information and resources for patients to be partners in determining their care
3. A patients’ voice to be heard in Brussels and throughout the European Union
More information here [9].
European Federation of Allergy and Airways Disease Patients (EFA)
The EFA [10] was established in 1991 as a European network for patient associations specialising in allergy and asthma. Their manifesto for the 2014 European Parliament elections includes calls for:
More information here [11].
European Liver Patients Association (ELPA)
ELPA [12]is the primary organization at the European level representing the interests of people with liver disease. Its manifesto of policy recommendations for the 2014 European Parliament elections includes:
The manifesto also discourages external reference pricing for innovative drugs in areas of medical need, and further increases in Europe’s Research and Development investment in the area of health.
More information here [13].
AGE Platform Europe
AGE Platform Europe [14] is a European network of around 167 organisations of and for people aged 50+ which aims to voice and promote the interests of the 150 million senior citizens in the EU.
On health matters, their European Parliament election manifesto calls for elected MEPs to:
More information here [15].
Not had an opportunity to register for the 19th Congress of the EAHP [16] online?
Don’t worry – its still possible to register on site.
See this short guide to find out how [17].
An open access article in the April 2014 edition [18] of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy provides a summary of an investigation into the beliefs of Norwegian outpatients about medicines.
A survey (using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire) was conducted of 150 patients from an Oslo outpatient clinic for chronic cardiovascular diseases.
The conclusion of the study drew on the finding that although the majority of patients in this study believed in the necessity of their medicines, one-third had strong concerns about their medicines: “As this may influence adherence and the outcome of therapy, this should be addressed when counselling about medicines”.
More information here [19].
Links
[1] http://www.eahp.eu/newsletter/subscribe
[2] https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tetwVENIJ8xiZPWj3Edo5sPr7L8%2bD44SVyz%2bqs6yYaA%3d
[3] http://www.eahp.eu/press-room/eahp-launch-2014-survey-medicines-shortages-europe
[4] https://eudravigilance.ema.europa.eu/highres.htm
[5] http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/about_us/general/general_content_000109.jsp
[6] http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/regulation/document_listing/document_listing_000199.jsp
[7] http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2014/03/news_detail_002045.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1
[8] http://www.eu-patient.eu/
[9] http://www.eu-patient.eu/Events/Archived-Events/Patients-Manifesto/
[10] http://www.efanet.org/
[11] http://manifesto.efanet.org/
[12] http://www.elpa-info.org/
[13] http://www.elpa-info.org/tl_files/elpa_downloads/2014/ELPA-Manifesto-chronic-liver-disease-2014-2019.pdf
[14] http://www.age-platform.eu/
[15] http://www.age-platform.eu/images/stories/EN/AGE_EP_Manifesto_Nov2013.pdf
[16] http://www.eahp.eu/congresses
[17] http://www.eahp.eu/news/how-register-site-ccib
[18] http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/21/2.toc
[19] http://http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/21/2/118.full