The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published a plan on 5 November 2026 aimed at giving patients and the public a greater role in shaping how medicines and medical devices are regulated in the UK.

The Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Plan 2026–2030, part of the agency's Strategy 2030, sets out commitments to involve people earlier, hear from a wider range of patient groups and communities, and explain how patients' experiences inform its work. The MHRA said lived experience will help inform areas including the assessment of medicine benefits and risks, safety reviews, regulatory policy, patient information, and approaches to rare diseases, medical devices, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Under the plan, the MHRA will strengthen feedback and reporting so people can see how their contributions influenced its work, expand its Patient and Public Community to better reflect the diversity of the UK population, and use deliberative engagement on how medicine benefits and risks are assessed. It will also involve patients in making medicines information clearer and work with NICE to reduce duplication in patient involvement evidence. The agency cited an advisory group of 23 patient representatives that has contributed to its Rare Disease Consortium. Its People and Public Engagement Committee will oversee progress.