TOPRA Exclusive - HMA reveals new mandate for 2019

Sweden 7-9 October - Head of the French Agency for the Safety of Health Products (Afssaps) reveals details of a new Head of Medicines Agency (HMA) mandate at the TOPRA annual symposium this week.

Jean Marimbert, Director General of Afssaps, gave delegates a scoop of the HMA's Mandate, still to be formally adopted at the next HMA meeting 28 October in Uppsala, Sweden.

Major items of the draft mandate will include assessing the implementation of the current HMA Strategy Paper work plan and involve drafting a new HMA Strategy Paper. It will be developed by a task force, chaired by Kent Woods, head of the MHRA, and composed of HMA and senior NCA's personnel.

The task force will look at developing new areas and topics - bearing in mind the new scientific trends and globalization challenges - while taking in consideration the specific vision and mission of HMA and the risk management responsibilities of NCA's.

Achieving this crucial exercise of strategic guidance will be a first range priority for HMA in 2010. Of course, not without neglecting the collective duty to complete implementation of the Strategy Paper N°1, or ignoring the need of involvement in the preparation and management of overall public health challenges such as influenza pandemics.

Importantly, this will ensure close interaction with the development of the coming EMEA Road Map, details of which will be available for public consultation January 2010.

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