The Working Party monitors events and ongoing shortages which could affect the supply of medicines within the European Union. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for the Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of Medicinal Products (MSSG).

The working party consists of representatives of the EU member states, associated states (Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland) and members of the EMA.

Started in 2019 as a pilot project the Medicines Shortages Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Working Party got formally established in May 2022 based on the Regulation on EMA's Reinforced Role (Regulation (EU) 2022/123).

The main responsibilities of the working party include

• Reporting and monitoring of events which are likely to impact the supply of medicines in the European Union
• Submit recommondations on shortages to the Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of medicinal products (MSSG)
• Drawing up lists of the main therapeutic groups of human medicines that are used in emergency care, surgeries and intensive care, to inform the preparation of the critical medicines lists in order to respond to a ‘public health emergency’ or ‘major event’, at the request of EMA's MSSG
• Monitoring of situation which are likely to end up in a major event or a crisis for public health
• Monitoring the demand and stock levels of critical human medicines

Members of the working party are representatives of the national competent authorities of the member states and of the European Economic Area (Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland).

Further Information on the Working Party is summarized on the Homepage of the European Medicines Agency as well as information on availability of medicines in the european union and their evaluation.