Patients and carers
On this page, you will find information on the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) activities that are most relevant to patients and carers, including news and events.
On Monday, 12 January 2026, between 07:00 and 10:00 CET (Amsterdam time), this website will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance.
You can contribute to EMA's work by responding to our public consultations.
Learn more about how patients and carers are actively involved in EMA's work.
Featured information for patients and carers
Report on EMA-HMA medicine repurposing pilot
A report is available on a pilot that provided tailored scientific advice to not-for-profit organisations and academics on repurposing authorised medicines for new indications. The report contains findings and recommendations from the pilot. EMA and Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) carried out this pilot between 2021 and 2024.
EMA communication activities: 2024 survey results
We asked stakeholders for feedback on our external communication activities via a bi-annual survey disseminated in May 2024. The results are available in a newly-published report. They help us to establish baselines and targets to measure progress, analyse trends and address areas for improvement.
Interchangeability of biosimilars
A 'questions and answers' document is available for healthcare professionals, patients and other stakeholders to further address issues related to the interchangeability of biosimilars in EU countries. This complements the information that EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies provided in a joint statement on this topic, in September 2022.
EU agencies promoting a One Health approach
EMA and other scientific EU agencies responsible for human, animal health and environmental protection have established a task force to coordinate activities and share information, promoting a joined-up One Health approach.
Guidance on medicine shortages
Guidance is available on the actions that patients and healthcare professionals can take to help prevent and manage shortages of human medicines in the EU. An infosheet and infocards are also available to summarise the recommendations in the guidance.
Involving patients in EMA advice to medicine developers
An article by EMA staff in the journal Frontiers in Medicine highlights the added value of involving patients in delivering scientific advice to medicine developers on their development plans.
Latest news
Board welcomes political agreement on new pharmaceutical legislation and adopts work programme for 2026
Seven new medicines recommended for approval; another 12 medicines recommended for extension of their therapeutic indications
Anktiva provides an alternative to surgery for patients whose cancer does not respond to treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
PRAC carried out its broad range of responsibilities for managing the risks associated with medicine use
Publications of interest
Video: 25 years of EMA engagement with patients and healthcare professionals
Watch our short video to see how our interactions with patients and healthcare professionals have evolved over the last 25 years (video in English)
Video: Working for every patient in Europe
Watch our short video for a quick and easy explanation of who EMA is and what it does. (video in English, with subtitles in 24 different languages).
EMA's 2023 annual report
Navigate through the digital report to view interviews, short videos and an interactive timeline of the Agency’s main activities in 2023. Read the traditional PDF version to see additional figures and statistics on EMA's regulatory procedures and activities.