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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding setting out how they will work together in future to improve public health.
The CQC and MHRA say the principles behind the agreement are: addressing overlaps and gaps in the regulatory framework and responsibilities; cooperating openly and transparently with the other organisation; respecting each other’s independent status; and using resources and intelligence effectively and efficiently.
The memorandum details the circumstances in which the two organisation will share information, such as when there is concern for public safety or if it impacts on the other organisation’s functions.
It also commits the two bodies to notify each other if they plan to make public statements that could be relevant to the other organisation, and states that they will work together to produce joint communications where relevant.
The MHRA is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK, while the CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
In a statement the MHRA said: “We have worked closely with CQC on alert systems, medicines issues and online healthcare services. Our working relationship helps maintain an effective regulatory system for health and adult social care in England, while promoting patient safety and high quality care.”
