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World’s largest society for regulatory professionals increases investment in Europe
- Apr 20, 2017 - The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) is stepping up its presence in Europe and expanding its European team in response to growing membership demand from those involved with the regulation of healthcare and related products.
In the last 12 months, the largest global organisation for regulatory professionals in the healthcare, medical device, biologic and pharmaceutical sectors has seen its European member base grow by approximately 19 per cent to more than 1,500 members across 29 countries.
RAPS plans to invest more than 2 million euro over three years implementing a strategic growth plan in Europe that includes launching new events and resources to serve the needs of regulatory professionals in the region.
RAPS executive director Paul Brooks said: Europe has a vibrant and progressive healthcare products community and many of our existing regulatory professionals are working here, so increasing our investment in Europe was a natural next step for RAPS.
Healthcare is a global business, and with more than 15,000 members in over 80 countries, we are well aware of the challenges regulatory professionals face worldwide. Our own research has shown that in Europe more than 65 per cent of professionals in the healthcare product industries have multi-regional or worldwide responsibilities, said Brooks. RAPS is committed to understanding the specific needs of European regulatory professionals and supporting our local chapters and networks.
The investment program includes a substantial increase in staff resources for European members and a series of European events including a RAPS Roadshow: Examining the New European Medical Device Regulations on 4 May in Munich and a workshop EU Regulatory Essentials, Medical Device and In Vitro Diagnostics: Transitioning from Current Directives to New Regulations on 4 and 5 July in Brussels.
Brooks continued: In highly regulated environments such as the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, there is a greater need than ever for regulatory professionals to stay up to date on the latest regulatory developments. In particular, changes to medical device regulations in Europe present a huge challenge to manufacturers and should be high on the industrys agenda as we move towards the 2020 deadline.
In addition to in-person events, RAPS will host a four-part virtual programme in May, Understanding the New EU Medical Device and IVD Regulations and has produced a helpful interactive guide to the new EU Medical Device and IVD Regulations.
As part of its investment in Europe RAPS is also looking to increase awareness of its Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC). The RAC is the only professional certification specifically for those in the healthcare product regulatory field, testing knowledge and critical thinking relating to the international practice of regulatory affairs. Four RAC credentials are available, including one focused on European regulations. Currently, more than 4,000 individuals around the world are RAC-credentialed.
Regulatory professionals looking to join RAPS or learn more should visit RAPS.org or follow RAPS on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About RAPS
The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) is an international membership organisation of regulatory professionals in the rapidly growing medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
As regulatory professionals, RAPS members perform vital work in all areas of the healthcare product lifecycle; ensuring products are safe and effective, while driving organisational strategy and sound decision-making.
RAPS supports these individuals and the regulatory profession as a whole by providing education and training, certification, professional standards, research, knowledge-sharing, publications, networking and career development opportunities and other valuable resources. It is committed to helping its members continually develop the knowledge and skills they need to excel.