Healthcare professionals' working party elects co-chair

Gonzalo Calvo appointed for a second term

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Healthcare Professionals' Working Party (HCPWP) has re-elected Gonzalo Calvo as its co-chair at the September 2016 meeting.

Professor Calvo, a physician by education and consultant in clinical pharmacology in Barcelona, Spain, has extensive experience in medicines regulation, including nearly ten years as a member of EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

“My aim is to consolidate the work initiated and open new paths to strengthen the role and impact of healthcare professionals in regulatory activities, securing fast and safe access to new medicines,” said Professor Calvo. “Close collaboration with the patients and consumers' working group has been instrumental for the progress of HCPWP work. I do not see any other way forward than enhancing our interaction with patients and consumers.”

This is the second mandate for Professor Calvo and together with Isabelle Moulon, Head of the Public Engagement Department at EMA, he will co-chair HCPWP for the next three years.

As regards the Patients' and Consumers' Working Party (PCWP), a conclusion on the election of its new co-chair was not reached during this meeting.

The main role of the PCWP and the HCPWP is to provide recommendations to EMA and its scientific committees on all matters of interest to either patients and consumers or healthcare professionals in relation to medicines, as well as to monitor interactions between the Agency and patients, consumers and healthcare professionals.