Swissmedic Annual Report 2018

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Remuneration
Remuneration for the Agency Council in 2018 totalled CHF
189,000 (including expenses), of which CHF 41,000 was
paid to the Chair.
The total remuneration paid to the Management Board (Executive
Director plus 7 members of the Management
Board) was CHF 1,876,642. The salaries paid to the Executive
Directors (the former and then the present Executive
Director as of April 2018) totalled CHF 296,634.
Supervision by the owner
As a rule, three meetings (owner discussions) are held each
year between the Federal Department of Home Affairs
(FDHA) and the Swissmedic Agency Council. These meetings
are chaired by the Head of the FDHA. They are also
attended by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Agency Council,
the Executive Director and individual members of the
Management Board.
Swissmedic submits a report to the FDHA on the attainment
of the objectives specified in the service level agreement
for 2018 and prepares an Annual Report. On the basis
of these reports and the auditors’ report, the Head of the
FDHA ratified the actions of the Agency Council for the
2018 financial year. The (entire) Federal Council takes note
of the auditors’ report and briefs parliament on Swissmedic’s
attainment of the objectives specified in the service
level agreement.
Auditors
The Agency Council has mandated the Swiss Federal Audit
Office to conduct the audit in accordance with Art. 74 of
the Therapeutic Products Act (SR 812.21; TPA).
Information policy
Taking account of the requirements (and constraints) of the
law, the Agency’s information policy is designed for maximum
transparency. Swissmedic has a mandate to provide
information, as defined in Art. 67 TPA. Accordingly, the
Agency ensures that the public is informed of occurrences
specifically relating to therapeutic products which endanger
health, and issues appropriate recommendations. It
publishes information of general interest about the therapeutic
products sector, in particular regarding authorisation
and revocation decisions, as well as about amendments to
professional and patient information concerning medicinal
products.
The main information platform is the website www.swissmedic.ch,
on which all relevant information is published,
including the monthly Swissmedic Journal and all safety-relevant
communications on therapeutic products. Swissmedic
also publishes media releases via the federal news
service and responds to stakeholder inquiries received by
telephone, in writing or online via the website. In addition,
Swissmedic stages events directed at specific expert groups
or entire stakeholder groups.
Internal control system
Swissmedic has an internal control system (ICS). The ICS
identifies the operational risks posed by finance-related
business processes, defines suitable control measures to
minimise these risks, and implements the measures. The
ICS is reviewed annually in terms of the risks identified and
assessed, as well as the effectiveness of the risk-minimising
controls conducted. It is part of the Agency’s comprehensive
risk management matrix.