The Medical Products Agency (MPA; sv, Läkemedelsverket) is the
government agency in Sweden responsible for regulation and surveillance of the development, manufacturing and sale of medicinal
drug
A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via insuffla ...
s,
medical device
A medical device is any device intended to be used for medical purposes. Significant potential for hazards are inherent when using a device for medical purposes and thus medical devices must be proved safe and effective with reasonable assura ...
s and
cosmetics
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
.
Its task is also to ensure that both
patient
A patient is any recipient of health care services that are performed by healthcare professionals. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, nurse, optometrist, dentist, veterinarian, or other health c ...
s and
healthcare professional
A health professional, healthcare professional, or healthcare worker (sometimes abbreviated HCW) is a provider of health care treatment and advice based on formal training and experience. The field includes those who work as a nurse, physician (suc ...
s have access to safe and effective medicinal products and that these are used in a rational and cost-effective manner.
The Swedish Medical Products Agency is one of the leading
regulatory
Regulation is the management of complex systems according to a set of rules and trends. In systems theory, these types of rules exist in various fields of biology and society, but the term has slightly different meanings according to context. For ...
authorities in the
EU. During the last five years, the Swedish MPA has been among the top three agencies in Europe, counting the number of approvals processes managed for central (i.e. European) approvals of medicines. The Swedish MPA also has strong representation in more than 110 working groups and committees in the scope of the
Heads of Medicines Agencies
The Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) is a network of both the human and veterinary
medicines agencies of the European Economic Area.
The HMA co-operates with the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission (Directorate-General for He ...
(HMA) and European Medicines Agency (
EMA) for regulation of medical products in Europe.
The Medical Products Agency is a government body under the aegis of the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. Its operations are largely financed through fees. Approximately 750 people work at the agency; most are
pharmacist
A pharmacist, also known as a chemist (Commonwealth English) or a druggist (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), is a healthcare professional who prepares, controls and distributes medicines and provides advice and instructi ...
s and
doctors
Doctor or The Doctor may refer to:
Personal titles
* Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree
* A medical practitioner, including:
** Physician
** Surgeon
** Dentist
** Veterinary physician
** Optometrist
*Other roles
** ...
.
General directors
* 1990–1999: Kjell Strandberg
* 1999–2008: Gunnar Alván
* 2008–2014: Christina Rångemark Åkerman
* 2014–2020: Catarina Andersson Forsman
* 2020–2021: Joakim Brandberg (acting)
* 2021– : Björn Eriksson
Critics
In 2016, the
Swedish National Audit Office
The Swedish National Audit Office ( sv, Riksrevisionen) is the agency responsible for oversight of the state finances through financial and performance audits of state agencies, state-owned companies and the Government of Sweden. It serves direct ...
published an audit report examining how the state (the government, the Medical Products Agency, the National Board of Health and Welfare and the Swedish Agency for Medical and Social Evaluation) handles the pharmaceutical industry's influence over state drug control and knowledge management. In its review, the National Audit Office sharply criticizes the Medical Products Agency for shortcomings on several points. However, the Medical Products Agency has pointed out that several of the conclusions were based on claims that lack objective support. The government also rejected large parts of the National Audit Office's criticism.
See also
*
European Medicines Agency
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) in charge of the evaluation and supervision of medicinal products. Prior to 2004, it was known as the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products or Euro ...
References
External links
The Swedish Medical Products Agency, MPAThe Innovation Office at the MPA
Pharmaceutical industry
National agencies for drug regulation
Government agencies of Sweden
Medical and health organizations based in Sweden
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