A new and ambitious Delivery Plan centred on putting patients
first, has been published today by the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
“Putting patients first: A new era for our agency”, ensures the
agency keeps a constant focus on delivering meaningful outcomes
for patients, protecting public health through excellence in
regulation and science and becoming a truly world-leading,
enabling regulator.
At the core of the plan is how the MHRA will draw together its
scientific and regulatory expertise to help facilitate the UK
life sciences sector and health service; develop new regulatory
frameworks; quickly realise the benefits of new therapies and
innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), to
improve outcomes for patients; and ensure the continued safety,
quality and efficacy of medicines and medical devices.
The plan recognises the significant challenges the agency will
have to overcome to deliver against its ambition. Priorities
include delivering the recommendations set out in the Independent
Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review by ensuring patients
are listened to and engaged with more systematically.
Another key challenge will be the strengthening of international
regulatory relationships and enhancing partnerships with the
wider health system now that the UK has left the EU; the agency
will need to work quickly to evolve regulatory frameworks, so
they remain fit for purpose in an era of fast-paced, cutting edge
scientific developments.
Underpinning this delivery is the creation of a new business
model that provides a financially sustainable future that will
meet the increasing expectations of patients, healthcare
professionals, partners, the pharmaceutical industry, government
and wider industry and non-profit stakeholders alike.
Delivery of the plan will build on the MHRA’s outstanding service
to the UK public during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges
it continues to pose to global science and healthcare.
The plan sets out 14 objectives grouped into 6 central themes:
- Scientific innovation
- Healthcare access
- Patient safety
- Dynamic organisation
- Collaborative partnerships
- Financial sustainability
Overarching all of these, for every member of staff, is the
priority to deliver better patient and public involvement and
putting patients first.
Dr June Raine CBE, Chief Executive, Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said:
Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic is proof positive that we
can rise to challenges with fresh thinking and innovative
approaches – fulfilling our responsibilities to patients first
and foremost, as outlined in the Independent Medicines and
Medical Devices Safety Review, and opening up the many
opportunities now that the UK has left the EU, with real benefit
to the brilliant UK Life Sciences industry and to healthcare.
This plan is our response to these challenges and more. We have
shown that we can not only excel under pressure and in
exceptional circumstances, but also where we can take direct
action to support and protect patients and improve health
outcomes.
It marks a step-change in our efforts to build a world-leading
organisation, bringing together excellence in science and
regulation to serve patients and public health to the best of our
ability.
Stephen Lightfoot, Chair, Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency, said:
We are acutely aware of the many opportunities and challenges we
face, but we are confident in the course we have set, our
scientific expertise and our vision for progressive regulation to
support the global life science industry.
Our Delivery Plan sets out our ambition plainly and prioritises
the steps we are taking to achieve it: integrating our undeniable
assets in science and regulation; building the UK and
international partnerships we need to support our delivery; and
taking the necessary decisions to improve our organisational
resilience. These actions will enable us to dramatically improve
patient involvement and outcomes from the faster introduction of
safe and effective medical products to patients around the world.
Innovation Minister said:
During the many challenges posed by COVID-19, the UK’s brilliant
life sciences and healthcare sectors have led the way for
scientific innovation, rapidly developing life-saving vaccines
and treatments which have helped turn the tide on the pandemic.
The MHRA has played an absolutely crucial role in the success of
our vaccination programme by thoroughly assessing and batch
testing all vaccines, allowing the UK to be the first country in
the world to roll out an approved jab – which has prevented more
than seven million infections and 27,000 deaths in England alone.
MHRA’s new delivery plan sets out how the UK will apply the
lessons learned from the pandemic and grasp the opportunity of
innovation now we have left the EU to make sure NHS patients are
able to benefit first from all medical innovations.
Read the MHRA Delivery
Plan 2021-2023
Notes to editors:
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is
responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in
the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our
work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure
that the benefits justify any risks.
- The Delivery Plan 2021-2023 replaces our current Corporate
Plan 2018-2023.
