PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 25 February 2011
Launch of EMA strategy on medicines for older people
AGE warmly welcomes EMA new geriatric medicines strategy!
“Considering the ageing of the EU population and the financial pressure on healthcare systems, the need to have better tailor-made medicines for older people and access to reliable, unbiased and independent information is crucial”, declared Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Platform Europe’s Secretary General after the European Medicine Agency announced its new medicine strategy for the next five years.
The commitment taken by the European Medicine Agency to develop new medicines which address the specific age-related safety and efficiency issues is an important step forward. It comes very timely with the launch of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the forecoming European Year 2012 on Active ageing and echoes AGE repeated call for the setting up of a geriatric medicines committee at EMA, similar to the pediatric medicines committee. The proposed EMA strategy is an important step forward and will ensure that more appropriate medicines are developed for our rapidly ageing population as well as better information on an adequate use of medicine. Today still many avoidable hospitalizations among older people result from the improper use of medicines, either overmedication, or interaction of medication. “This strategy should mobilise healthcare professionals from nurses to community pharmacists, professional and informal carers and older people themselves and should deliver both social and economic benefits for the individuals and society”, added Ms Parent.
Through its involvement in the Patients and Consumers Working Parties at the EMA, AGE will closely monitor the implementation of this strategy. In addition, the upcoming revision of the Directive on clinical trials will be a good opportunity to ensure the involvement of geriatric patients while respecting their rights.
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For more information, please refer to EMA Website:
for more information on AGE work and recommendations to promote healthy ageing:
https://www.age-platform.eu/en/age-policy-work/health
https://www.age-platform.eu/images/stories/EN/Brochure_Health_EN.pdf
