News Category: Regulatory news
Plan sets out the strategic direction that will guide the health products regulator over five-year period
The HPRA has launched its Strategic Plan 2016-2020 which outlines its goals, objectives and high level strategic actions for the next five years. The plan has been prepared in consultation with staff and a range of external stakeholders including those who use health products, and in line with Department of Health priorities.
The HPRA’s five core strategic goals which incorporate 17 high level actions are:
Strategic Goal 1 – Optimised Regulatory Systems: The HPRA is committed to appropriate regulation of all health products. To ensure that the regulatory system keeps pace with developments in health products, it will continue to place an emphasis on effective collaboration with colleagues at European as well as international levels. We will also work in partnership with other national agencies to develop and deliver on government policies.
Strategic Goal 2 – Better Informed Users: Healthcare professionals and the public need access to clear, readily available, high-quality information on which to base their health decisions. The HPRA will make use of all appropriate channels to communicate comprehensively and effectively with health product users and other key audiences.
Strategic Goal 3 – Access to Health Products: The HPRA is committed to working with all stakeholders to enhance access to health products; this includes working on measures to reduce medicine shortages and, when they occur, managing those shortages better. Maintaining access to current and future health products whilst also protecting the integrity of the supply chain to avoid illegal products reaching patients, are significant areas of focus in the HPRA’s five year plan.
Strategic Goal 4 – Supporting Innovation: Ireland has a substantial and growing life-sciences industry. The HPRA aims to strengthen its capabilities in providing regulatory assistance to companies developing new products. In addition, new developments taking place in research centres will point to the technologies that the HPRA will need to regulate in the future.
Strategic Goal 5 – Internal Capabilities: The HPRA will continue to invest in and develop its internal expertise. Appropriate systems and resources to manage all aspects of the business will be enhanced, so that the HPRA meets the opportunities and challenges presented by external developments.
Chairman of the HPRA, Ms Ann Horan, said: “The HPRA’s strategic plan reflects our mission to protect and enhance human and animal health by regulating medicines, medical devices and other health products. It is a robust strategic document that builds on the significant expansion of the HPRA’s remit over a number of years. The direction of the plan clearly outlines the high level actions required to make sure that the health products we regulate are as safe and beneficial as possible for those who use them.”
According to Chief Executive, Ms Lorraine Nolan: “The actions and activities identified in our strategic plan provide a clear roadmap for the future focus and development of the HPRA. It involved an extensive consultation process where we gained valuable and important insight and feedback. Our final plan published today reflects the key issues and work areas highlighted during that process where we engaged with our expert staff as well as healthcare professionals, government agencies, patient advocacy groups and the large and vibrant health products sector in Ireland. We welcome the opportunity to work in collaboration with all our stakeholders to deliver on our plan in the years ahead.”
Download:
• Strategic Plan 2016 - 2020
• Plean Straitéiseach 2016 - 2020
• Public Consultation: Response Document
Further Information:
For general queries about the HPRA’s Strategic Plan, please e-mail strategy.consultation@hpra.ie.
For media queries, please contact Weber Shandwick on (01) 679 8600.