EFA training for patient experts on allergy, asthma and COPD on getting involved with the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
As we informed you in the last issue of our eZine, EFA planned to host on 18th of February the first edition of what we hope to be annual event for patient experts on allergy, asthma and COPD on getting involved with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). 15 patient experts from 11 European countries were present in the beautiful premises of our member Fares, Brussels.
The main objective of the training was to empower patient experts to understand the role of the EMA and the role they can play there, as well as to be able to effectively and proactively participate in events and activities of EMA. For these purposes, Isabelle Moulon who is the Head of Patients and Healthcare Professionals Department in EMA joined us to present the general aspects of EMA as well as how can patients be involved in EMA and what training tools are available.
These two comprehensive presentations were followed by a presentation by Susanna Palkonen, EFA Director and Vice-President of the European Patients Forum (EPF), EPF representative at the EMA Patient and Consumer Working Party (PCWP). Susanna presented and explained how to fill in the administrative forms at EMA (conflict of interest, e-CV). Immediately after her presentation, participants of the training had the opportunity to draft their own administrative forms.
After the lunch break, two members of EFA Board Lina Buzermaniene (EFA representative at the EMA PCWP) and Breda Flood (EFA President), experienced patient experts in EMA, led two case-studies on the involvement of patients. The first focused on patients’ review of medicinal product information. Participants were divided into small groups and simulated the process of patients’ input into the review of information. The latter case-study was focusing on patients’ involvement in the evaluation of medicines from the perspective of participation at the Scientific Advisory Group meetings. During both case-studies, and during the whole training, our members showed great interest and proactively participated in discussions and evaluation. This was the approach from participants we were hoping for. At the moment, they all are educated and trained well enough to help EMA to make the medicines safer and the information to be more understandable for patients.
Programme of the event is available here.
The evaluation report will be soon available.
You can check the pictures from the event at EFA’s official Facebook page.