Responsibility at Fimea – Responsibility report 2021

The tasks of the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea include licensing and supervision duties related to medicines, medicinal products and pharmaceutical services, research and development in the pharmaceutical sector and producing and forwarding information on medicines to improve pharmaceutical services and pharmacotherapy. Fimea is responsible for assessing pharmacotherapies and coordinates the related partnerships. Fimea is also tasked with developing the international impact of the pharmaceutical sector and cooperating, especially with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Fimea also takes care of the general preparedness of pharmaceutical services in Finland.

Fimea's social responsibility is based on our statutory duties, and it aims at safeguarding the well-being of the population and services and benefits in a sustainable manner. Fimea creates the preconditions for the uninterrupted operation of pharmaceutical distribution and the availability of safe, effective and affordable medicines and medicinal products throughout the country. Fimea's goal is to improve the appropriateness and economic efficiency of the population's pharmaceutical services, promote the rational use of medicines and strengthen the competence and medication safety related to medicines in social welfare and health care.

Responding to the needs of users of medicines and medicinal products for human and veterinary use, social and health care professionals and veterinarians is a primary responsibility goal in our official duties. Promoting well-being, or social sustainability, and environmental and economic sustainability guide our assessment, development, research and monitoring activities.

Responsibility as part of Fimea's strategy

Fimea updated its strategy in 2021. The objectives of the “Sustainable well-being through safe medicines and medicinal products combined with effective service” strategy are:

• Service-oriented expertise
• Streamlined and enabling operating culture
• National and international effectiveness

In accordance with the objectives of the strategy, Fimea develops the organisation and its operating methods so that Fimea's expertise and the information accumulated in the agency meet a wide range of customer needs. Responsibility was also included as part of the new strategy, as central government actors play an important role in promoting sustainable development.

Fimea is committed to promoting the global UN Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030), which guide sustainable development globally, in its activities. The goals should be achieved by 2030, and the responsibility for achieving this lies with the governments of the countries. As part of society, Fimea also wants to both promote the achievement of the goals (handprint of activities) and reduce the negative impacts on them (footprint of activities).

In March–April 2021, Fimea's responsibility working group began to look into responsibility and impact at Fimea. Fimea's Finance Director was responsible for the work of the responsibility working group. In addition to financial administration, the members of the responsibility working group include experts in core processes, development and communications. The aim was to find 3-5 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which can be promoted most significantly through Fimea's core activities. The study was carried out by first examining by areas of operation what activities in accordance with the sub-objectives could be found in each of Fimea's processes. Finally, the group examined under which UN goals the activities are focused, in which functions Fimea's role is important and in which new opportunities could be identified. In addition, Fimea's expert working group on environmental issues was established in 2021. The group takes considers issues related to environmental impacts of its own initiative and aims to share information on the environmental impacts of medicines.

From the perspective of its activities and stakeholders, Fimea identified the four most essential UN Sustainable Development Goals that it can particularly influence:

• Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
• Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
• Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

It was also noted in the preparation that goal 17, partnerships for the goals, should be more strongly integrated into working and operating methods in the future.

By combining these selected UN Sustainable Development Goals and the strategy, Fimea's responsibility policies were formed:

• Sustainable well-being through safe and effective medicines and medicinal products
• Sustainable well-being and economy through rational use of medicines
• Functional distribution of medicines
• Impactful supervision