Heads of Medicines Agencies

The Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) is a network of both human and veterinary medicines agencies of the EEA.

The HMA co-operates with the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission (DGSANCO) in the operation of the European medicines regulatory system. The network provides a forum for the co-ordination and the exchange of views and proposals on issues concerning the European regulatory system and the role of the national authorities within that system.

The HMA, initially known as the Heads of Agencies, was established in 1995 with a first full meeting taking place in Amsterdam in February 1996. Initially the network comprised only agencies responsible for the regulation of medicines for human use. In February 1998, a parallel group bringing together the heads of agencies responsible for medicines for veterinary use held its first meeting. The two groups started organising joint meetings in 2000 and since 2004 these activities have been integrated under the umbrella of the HMA.

The HMA comprises 46 national competent authorities responsible for the regulation of human and/or veterinary medicines. These 46 national authorities represent the 28 EU member states as well as the three additional European Economic Area members, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Of the 46 NCAs, 15 have responsibility only for human medicines; 14 are purely veterinary agencies; 17 are joint veterinary and human agencies; and some veterinary agencies are integrated with their respective national food safety agencies or respective ministries. Some have responsibility for pricing and reimbursement of human medicines. 22 have joint responsibility for medicines and medical devices. All are accountable to their national governments.

Together with the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission, these national authorities form the European medicines regulatory system.

Medicines can be authorised in Europe in a number of ways. The centralised procedure is the responsibility of the European Medicines Agency where the assessment is conducted by lead (and co-) rapporteurs from the national authorities, while there is also a national procedure available through each national authority. In addition, there are two non-centralised European procedures known as the decentralised and mutual-recognition procedures. The HMA co-ordinates these non-centralised procedures.

The initial focus of the network in 1995 was the operation of a Mutual Recognition Facilitation Group which was given full legal status in 2003 as the HMA mandated Co-ordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures (CMD). In 2012, new European pharmacovigilance legislation added to the role and decision-making powers of the CMD in respect of human medicines.

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Wikipedia