Farmaatsiate

Farmaatsiate is the Estonian term used to refer to pharmaceutical products and the pharmaceutical sector, including medicines, vaccines, and related services. The term covers both the substances used to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease and the industry responsible for their development, production, regulation, and distribution.

Pharmaceutical products include prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, biologics, and generics. The development of these products typically involves discovery, preclinical research, clinical trials, regulatory review, and scalable manufacturing. Ensuring quality, safety, and efficacy relies on pharmacovigilance and post-market surveillance as well as strict manufacturing standards.

Regulation and oversight: In the European Union, medicines require authorization before market entry, either through a centralized process via the European Medicines Agency or national pathways. In Estonia, Ravimiamet (the National Medicines Agency) coordinates with the EMA and the health authorities to license, monitor, and inspect medicines and manufacturers. EU and national rules govern labeling, safety reporting, advertising, and supply chains to protect patients.

Current topics: The field addresses access and pricing, supply security, and the risk of counterfeit or falsified medicines. It also encompasses ongoing research in pharmacology, drug safety science, and the development of advanced therapies and personalized medicine. The term farmaatsiate is encountered in regulatory, academic, and healthcare contexts across Estonia and, more broadly, the EU.