On 15 July 2010, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) launched its redesigned website. The aim is to make the website more easily used by its target users, more interactive, and to increase openness and transparency regarding the EMA's functioning.

Although it is still at the same address, http://www.ema.europa.eu, the website has been revised and restructured in line with the types of features and functionalities that its users said they would like to see.

New features on the website include:

• Quick medicine searches: Allows users to search for human and veterinary medicines, for herbal medicinal substances and for active substance by name.
• An online library: Enables users to search for all EMA documents currently online through a search on title and date published online.
• Improved navigation: More intuitive labelling and improved organisation of content so that browsing is quicker for all user groups.
• Audience landing pages: Flags information of specific value to different users.
• Online calendar and news search: Allows users to keep up to date with the latest news and events at the EMA.
• RSS feeds: Brings information straight to the users, as soon as it is published online.

The EMA intends to continue to improve the website during 2010 and 2011 by increasing the use of multimedia and improving its search functions.

Background Information:

The EMA is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU), located in London. Its main responsibility is the protection and promotion of public and animal health, through the evaluation of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies and supervision of their use in the EU.

The EMA website receives about half a million unique visits per month, ranging from patients, healthcare professionals, regulators to those interested in the regulation and safety of medicines in the EU.

Further information:

• Original news article - Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME)
• European Medicines Agency