The European Medicines Agency supports World Health Day, taking place on Saturday 7 April 2012.
World Health Day is a global campaign held every year on 7 April to mark
the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization
(WHO). Each year's theme highlights a priority area of concern for WHO.
(WHO). Each year's theme highlights a priority area of concern for WHO.
In 2012, the theme for the day is ageing and health, focusing on how good
health throughout life can help older people lead full and productive lives and
be a resource for their families and communities.
The Agency plays an active role in protecting the health of older people by
providing specific recommendations on the authorisation and safety-monitoring
of medicines used by older people. It engages with regulatory authorities,
pharmaceutical companies and organisations representing the interests of
elderly people in Europe and beyond, including with patient, consumer and
healthcare professional organisations such as AGE Platform Europe and the European Union Geriatric
Medicine Society.
and the European Union Geriatric
Medicine Society.
The Agency is responsible for the evaluation of new medicines in the
European Union (EU), including medicines for diseases affecting older people.
These include all medicines for neurodegenerative conditions, which affect the
way the brain and nervous system work, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's
disease. The Agency is also responsible for evaluating medicines for cancer and
diabetes.
The Agency published a geriatric
medicines strategy in February 2011, setting out
its plans for ensuring that the needs of the ageing population in the EU are
taken into account in the development and evaluation of new medicines by
building on its existing activities. In particular, the strategy aims to ensure
that the medicines used by older people are of high quality and are studied
appropriately in the older population, and to improve the availability of
information for older people on the use of medicines.
It has also set up a Geriatric
Expert Group to provide scientific advice
on issues related to the elderly and has hosted workshops on this topic, most
recently a workshop on medicines for
older people in March 2012.