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.
You can contribute to EMA's work by responding to our public consultations.
Learn more about how how patients and carers are actively involved in EMA's work.
Featured information for patients and carers
Have your say and help shape EMA’s future communications
Help EMA meet your communication needs by completing EMA's latest communication perception survey. Provide your feedback by 21 June 2024.
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.
Human medicines: highlights of 2022
In 2022, EMA recommended 89 medicines for marketing authorisation. Of these, 41 had a new active substance which had never been authorised in the European Union before. These included two vaccines and two treatments for COVID-19.
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
10 new medicines recommended for approval; another 11 medicines recommended for extension of their therapeutic indications
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Benefits of Ocaliva no longer considered to outweigh its risks
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Eurneffy (epinephrine) is an alternative to injectable formulations
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Winrevair received support through PRIority Medicines (PRIME) scheme due to its potential to bring a major therapeutic advantage over existing therapies
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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.