On 12 September, the 'AIFA Incontra' initiative was held at the agency's institutional headquarters in Via del Tritone. This is a new way of engaging in transparent dialogue with stakeholders, which is expected to include a public agenda of meetings over the coming months.

The meeting was chaired by Board President Giorgio Palù and Deputy Director General Anna Rosa Marra, moderated by Luisa Cordova, Head of the AIFA Press Office.

The president reiterated the purpose of this new communication modality, i.e. to implement direct forms of dialogue and listening, in transparency, with stakeholders (industries, foundations, scientific societies, patient associations, rare disease associations, research centres, etc.), emphasising how 'transparency' and 'communication' are also two principles of the Agency's operating modalities, also contemplated in the AIFA Business Plan 2023-2025.

'Less bureaucracy and more listening and speed, more direct interaction with the different stakeholders' would seem to be the motto for improving the quality of AIFA's services, with a knock-on effect on citizens and businesses.

Palù's expectations for the upcoming Reformation are high.

The work of the relationship table with the regions is important: 'The guidelines must be national, because the mission is the universal guarantee of care.

Marra, in his presentation, emphasised that the purpose of the open meetings is also to improve stakeholders' understanding of how AIFA works at a national level with repercussions in the European context. Even in the Community Pharmacological Legislative Review there is a declination of the involvement of different stakeholders that the Agency wants to enhance.

It is reiterated that the purpose of the open meetings is mainly cognitive, only for issues that are not being evaluated internally or that are not being evaluated by the offices.

On the sidelines of the press conference, prompted by an intervention by oncologist Franco Perrone (AIOM) Palù added how: 'on oncology and personalised medicine AIFA will have to express itself, technical tables will be crucial if there is to be a single commission'.

Meetings with AIFA are governed by the 'Regulation of Establishment and Operation' adopted by Board Resolution No. 20 of 7 June 2023.

Method of request: send PEC to presidenza@pec.aifa.gov.it with subject: 'PRES - Request for participation AIFA INCONTRA'.

What to write in the PEC:

• Reasons and purpose of the meeting
• Attach footnote containing:
  • Entity data and purposes
  • Nominees of participants
  • Programme of topics to be covered
  • Short presentation
  • Declaration of acknowledgement of AIFA Regulation meets
• Declaration concerning the disclosure of interest in the cases indicated in Article 3 of the Regulation
• Signature for acknowledgement of the information provided pursuant to Art. 13 of EU Regulation 679/2016 at the time of collection of personal data

Documentation and any communication following or related to the meetings should be sent to presidenza@aifa.gov.it

Admitted request -> communication to the applicant by PEC of:

• date
• now
• meeting place
• name of the designated AIFA contact persons