The HPRA is committed to widening its engagement with patients and patient organisations, to enable a deeper understanding of patient perspectives and experiences in relation to the regulation of health products.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) established a (pilot) Patient Forum in 2019 to input into the development of HPRA’s next strategic plan. The group met for the first time in September 2020 (virtually, due to the public health restrictions) to discuss the operation and functioning of the forum as a permanent mechanism for partnering with patients to inform the work of HPRA. The HPRA provided a description of the proposed role to forum members, and the formal terms of reference were co-created with forum members.
The HPRA and patient forum members believe that the forum serves as an important platform to enable the exchange of information on issues of interest. It allows for the increased participation by patients and consideration of patient perspectives into the development of HPRA’s policies and regulatory activities. The forum is a significant new vehicle for the HPRA to hear views and obtain information directly from patients and patient groups on the current use of medicines and medical devices and their therapeutic environment.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) Patient Forum (pilot) comprised of 12 members, of which all were patients or patient advocates. The patient representatives were selected based on nominations received from patient organisations and HPRA’s wider professional network. Once the forum is formally established with an agreed mandate, procedures and work programme, it is intended that membership will be opened to other patients and patient groups.