Links to related websites

Please note that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not accept responsibility for the content of other sites. This list exists only for the interest and convenience of those who use the MHRA's Internet pages. It does not necessarily recommend or condone the included sites. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over availability of the linked pages. 

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MHRA related websites

British Pharmacopoeia (BP) Commission Laboratory
The BP Laboratories are located at  the Laboratory of the Government chemist (LGC) site in Teddington. They provide analytical technical support to the 'British Pharmacopoeia'. The major functions of the laboratory are:

• Development of new Pharmacopoeial monographs - The BP laboratories undertake the development and validation of qualitative and quantitative test methods for new monograph specifications for publication in the BP; and refining and revalidating test methods for existing BP monographs; and
• BP Chemical Reference Substance (BPCRS) - The laboratory is responsible for the procurement, establishment, maintenance and sale of BPCRS. The catalogue currently contains over 400 BPCRS which are needed as standards for monograph tests in both the BP and the BP (Veterinary).
  

General Practice Research Database (GPRD)
The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) is the world’s largest computerised database of anonymised longitudinal patient records from general practice, containing more than 35 million patient years of data.

Other Government websites

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
DEFRA works for the essentials of life - food, air, land, water, people, animals and plants.

Department of Health
The aim of the Department of Health to improve the health and well-being of people in England. Here you will find the latest on the Department's work, as well as health and social care guidance, publications and policy. The MHRA is an Executive Agency of the Department of Health.

• Department of Health's Cosmetic website - The Department of Health's information pages on cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. These pages contain details of nearly 50 different procedures and treatments, plus information about the questions you need to ask if you are considering cosmetic surgery or a non-surgical cosmetic procedure.

Department of Health and Children, Ireland
In a partnership with the providers of healthcare, and in co-operation with other government departments, statutory and non-statutory bodies, to protect promote and restore the health and well-being of people by ensuring that health and personal social services are planned, managed and delivered to achieve measurable health and social gain and provide the optimum return on resources invested

Directgov
'The place to turn to for the latest and widest range of public service information'.Directgov provides a single point for accessing all information and services from central and local government.

Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission exists to promote improvement in the quality of both the NHS and private and voluntary healthcare across England and Wales.

Home Office
The Home Office is the Government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. The purpose of the Home Office is to work with individuals and communities to build a safe, just and tolerant society enhancing opportunities for all and in which rights and responsibilities go hand in hand, and the protection and security of the public are maintained and enhanced.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence works on behalf of the National Health Service and the people who use it. It makes recommendations on treatments and care using the best available evidence.

NHS Direct
'Your gateway to health information on the Internet'. NHS Direct is a new 24 hour nurse led telephone advice and information service and is part of the National Health Service.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) was set up to take the lead in improving the quality of care and treatment delivered by NHSScotland.

National Patient Safety Agency
The NPSA is a Special Health Authority created in July 2001 to co-ordinate the efforts of the entire country to report, and more importantly to learn from mistakes and problems that affect patient safety.

Service-Public
The official gateway to the French civil service.

The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is responsible for ensuring that the NHS makes the most effective use of its resources by getting the best value for money possible when purchasing goods and services.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
An Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs protecting public health, animal health, the environmentand promoting animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines in the United Kingdom.

Other regulatory bodies' websites

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA)
The EMEA, which began its activities on 1 February 1995 and was established by Council Regulation EEC 2309/93 of 22 July 1993, co-ordinates and supports the EC licensing system.

European Commission - Enterprise DG - Pharmaceuticals
The European Commission initiates new proposals, whether new legislation or new authorisation procedures, monitors implementation by national authorities and refers infringements to the European Court of Justice. The Commission's Directorate General includes a unit responsible for pharmaceuticals.

Europa
Europa is the portal site of the European Union . It provides up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration. Users can also consult all legislation currently in force or under discussion, access the websites of each of the EU institutions and find out about the policies administered by the European Union under the powers devolved to it by the Treaties. 

Global Harmonization Task Force
The Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) was conceived in 1992 in an effort to respond to the growing need for international harmonization in the regulation of medical devices.

Heads of agencies
This is the common website for the medicines authorities in the European Union and Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein.

European national medicines/medical devices authorities

Austria / Federal Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs

Belgium / The Directorate-General Public Health Protection: Medicinal Products

Denmark / Danish Medicines Agency

Finland / National Agency for Medicines

France / Agence Francaise de Securite Sanitaire des Produits de Sante

Germany / Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM)

Greece / National Drug Organization

Iceland / Icelandic Medicines Control Agency (IMCA)

Ireland / Irish Medicines Board

Italy / Ministry of Health

Luxemburg / Division de la Farmacie et des Médicamentes

Netherlands / Medicines Evaluation Board

Norway / Norwegian Medicines Agency

Portugal / INFARMED / The National Pharmacy and Medicines Institute

Spain / Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios

Sweden / Medical Products Agency

Switzerland / Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products

Australia / Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

Japan/ National Institute of Health Sciences, Japan

Canada/ Therapeutic Products Directorate

USA/ The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Other useful websites

Medicines.org.uk
The main section on medicines.org.uk is the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC).
The eMC provides free access to up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable information about prescription and over-the-counter medicines available in the UK.

Intensive Care Society
The Intensive Care Society was founded in 1970 to bring together clinicians whose main interest is caring for critically ill patients. Membership includes anaesthetists, surgeons and physicians. The Society also has a rapidly growing nurse and professionally allied membership including unit managers and other non-medical staff involved in intensive care