The information helps interested patient and consumer representatives to understand:
EMA has published a training overview describing the activities and materials available to patients and consumers taking part in EMA activities and events. This overview takes into account feedback obtained from patient and consumer organisations:
EMA has developed a series of training videos targeted at patients and consumers entitled 'EMA basics'.
Together with the videos, EMA provides the presentation slides and related documents.
EMA holds an annual one-day training session for patients and consumers involved in EMA activities. The session offers an overview of medicines evaluation, with specific emphasis on when and how to get involved. Using a hands-on, interactive approach, participants learn about how they can contribute to scientific advice procedures, scientific-advisory-group meetings and reviewing information for patients.
For further information on annual training sessions, see:
The video recording of the 2014 annual training session is available:
For information on recent EMA workshops of particular relevance to patients and consumers, or where they have participated as speakers, see:
Members of EMA's eligible organisation also have training initiatives that promote a better understanding of the development and approval of medicines as well as the involvement of patients and consumers in these processes. While EMA takes care in selecting external websites, it accepts no responsibility for the content.
The European Patients' Academy (EUPATI) is a public-private and multi-stakeholder partnership. It gathers patient organisations, academia and pharmaceutical industry.
EUPATI is an independent, non-profit foundation providing training and information on medicines research and development to patients and their representatives.
The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) implemented EUPATI in 2012.
The Open Academy School on Medicines Research and Development helps prepare patients to advocate for medicines development add equal access to treatments across Europe.
It ensures that medical information is clear, accurate and comprehensible.
EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe launched this training programme for patient experts in 2008.
The European Patient Ambassador Programme (EPAP) is a self-learning programme. It introduces patients and carers to the essential skills and knowledge they need to interact with healthcare professionals, policy-makers, researchers and journalists.
The training programme was developed by the European Lung Foundation and the UK National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for Leeds, York and Bradford, with the help of patients, and professionals with expertise in key areas.
Follow the journey of a medicine for human use assessed by EMA in this interactive timeline. It explains all stages from initial research to patient access, including how EMA supports medicine development, assesses the benefits and risks and monitors the safety of medicines.
The full text is available here:
From laboratory to patient: the journey of a centrally authorised medicine