Annual accountability review minutes 2018 to 2019: 1 November 2019
Updated 19 January 2024
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Chair and attendees
Chair: Baroness Nicola Blackwood, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Innovation, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Attendees:
- Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Chair, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Dr June Raine, interim Chief Executive (MHRA)
- Jon Fundrey, Chief Financial Officer (MHRA)
- Jonathan Mogford, Director of Policy (MHRA)
- John Quinn, Director of Transformation (MHRA)
- Elizabeth Woodeson, Director of Medicines and Pharmacy (DHSC)
- Alastair Hardisty, Head of MHRA Sponsorship and EU Exit (DHSC)
- Dunia Alameddine, Senior Policy Advisor, MHRA Sponsorship (DHSC)
- Tilly McEwan, Private Secretary to Baroness Blackwood (DHSC)
Review of progress in 2018 to 2019
Dr June Raine set out an overview of the key achievements by the MHRA over the past year, highlighting the hard work by the MHRA staff with support from the department.
The MHRA ensured the preparatory work to plan for the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU) was in place, including getting the European Systems Contingency ready for a day 1.
The MHRA continued to collaborate with key partners to facilitate better regulation, whilst maintaining the focus on patients.
Through initiatives such as the Accelerated Access Collaborative, the MHRA has been supporting the life sciences sector with innovative thinking into the future.
Baroness Blackwood thanked the MHRA for their hard work and achievements last year, highlighting the positive feedback from industry on the MHRA’s engagement with key stakeholders.
Forward look
Jonathan Mogford provided an update on the MHRA’s strategic objectives going forward, highlighting the development of innovative regulatory and legislative measures, and the focus on patients’ views and influencing clinical practice.
Baroness Blackwood welcomed these objectives and asked the MHRA to continue to build capability and its relationship with partners, including working with NHSX on regulatory pieces such as the AI Lab.
Operational transformation
Jon Fundrey provided a brief update on the Operational Transformation Programme and the delivery across the priority workstreams, highlighting capability building initiatives, such as the Transformation Academy, and efficiency improvements to customer experience.
Baroness Blackwood recognised the progress the MHRA has made to date and asked the MHRA to ensure it has the right capability to meet its objectives, recommending that it works with the AI Council for general advice on efficiency and upskilling.
Finance
Mr Fundrey provided an update on the MHRA’s finance, recognising the positive impact of DHSC support while the MHRA prepared for EU exit. He also updated that the MHRA will be reviewing its long-term strategy to ensure it is financially sustainable, on which Baroness Blackwood has asked for more updates following the board meeting in November 2019.
Any other business
There was a brief discussion on the decision by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to reclassify the MHRA from a trading fund to a regulatory body.
Baroness Blackwood concluded the meeting by reiterating her thanks for the MHRA’s hard work over 2018 to 2019 and her enthusiasm for continuing to work closely with them.