Europa Uomo backs campaign against proposed changes at European Medicines Agency

Europa Uomo has joined with 70 other patient organisations to call on European policy makers to ensure that patients have influence on decisions made at the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The organisations have come together with the European Patients Forum (EPF) and Rare Diseases Europe (EURORDIS) to call for patient influence to be retained at the EMA, as EU pharmaceutical legislation moves to a decisive stage. European Council proposals currently threaten to remove patient representatives’ voting rights in the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

There is also a risk that the number of voting patient members in the Pharmacovigilance and Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) –  another EMA committee responsible for authorising and monitoring medicines in Europe – will be reduced.

According to the concerned patient organisations, this will be a significant step backwards after 25 years of patient representatives contributing their lived experience to the EU regulatory process. Patient insights strengthen trust, ensure that medicines respond to real-world needs and complement clinical and scientific expertise.

“Together, we are raising our voices to ensure the final legislation can fully reflect patients’ lived experiences, expertise, and priorities, and does not diminish their role,” says a joint statement that Europa Uomo has endorsed. “This strong display of unity reinforces our collective commitment to ensuring that the future EU pharmaceutical framework truly serves the needs of patients by placing them at the heart of every decision.”

You can view the full statement here.