UK MHRA PROPOSES TO COMBINE TWO REVIEW PANELS

The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has posted a letter on its website proposing a merger of two advisory panels, the Independent Review Panel for Borderline Products and the Independent Review Panel for Advertising. The combined panel would be called the Independent Review Panel for Medicines Advertising and Borderline Products.

The role of the borderline products panel is to advise the MHRA on whether or not it considers a product a medicinal product. The advertising panel advises health ministers on if an advertisement is in breach of advertising regulations. Both panels constitute a legally qualified chairperson and two to four other members who represent consumer interests.

The membership of both panels is due to expire in March 2007, so the MHRA has taken this opportunity to review advisory panel structure. The importance of the safeguards provided by the two panels is clear, and the MHRA does not propose any change to their functions. However, the terms of reference, criteria for membership and role of members, the two panels are very similar. A merger of the panels will promote more efficient use of resources, reducing duplication of membership and allowing external advisers to be used more regularly and flexibly as the need arises, according to the MHRA.