Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate

The Working Group on Communication Professionals of the Heads of Medicines Agencies (WGCP HMA), responsible for coordinating communication within the European network of regulatory bodies (HMA), met in Copenhagen on 17-19 November 2025. Poland was represented by Olga Sierpniowska, Director of the Office of the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector and spokesperson for the CPI.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the key communication activities taking place within the network of the Heads of Medicines Agency (HMA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), including, among other things, preparations for joint information campaigns, the development of European crisis communication tools, and the results of research into the needs of patients and healthcare professionals.

The Polish representative gave a presentation on the communication of the risks associated with counterfeit medicines and the implementation of the principles of plain language in messages to the public. She presented, among other things:

• the educational activities carried out by the CPI on the dangers of purchasing medicines from illegal sources;
• the example of the national campaign 'Don't rob yourself of your health. Counterfeit medicines are a real threat’; 
• the role of plain language in increasing message comprehensibility and patient safety.

The agenda also included topics related to communication on medicine shortages, countering health misinformation and the exchange of good practices between the member states.

The Working Group of Communications Professionals (WGCP) is a working group established in 2007 by the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) network. Its purpose is to develop professional communication competence in European regulatory institutions and to strengthen cooperation between the member states in the field of public health and animal health communication.

The WGCP supports the European Medicines Regulatory Network (EMRN) in building consistent, trust-based communication between regulators, stakeholders (e.g. patients, healthcare professionals, the pharmaceutical industry) and the public.

The WGCP’s key activities include:

• exchange of good practices and development of the communication competence of the National Competent Authorities (NCAs);
• creating a forum for cooperation with the EMA in all areas of communication;
• developing joint European information campaigns on important health topics;
• advising the HMA on its communications and external relations strategy;
• developing and coordinating a crisis communication strategy between countries and the EMA
• initiating and conducting coordinated communication in situations requiring a common European voice;
• ensuring consistency of messages between all member states.