PEER Questionnaire
Goal/purpose
Support effectiveness and efficiency of regional regulators
Overview
The Process Efficiency and Effectiveness Rating (PEER) Questionnaire is a tool that evaluates the performance of regional regulatory initiatives and their joint assessment procedures. It obtains views from participating regulatory agencies and industry representatives to identify benefits, challenges, and suggestions for improving the regional initiative. PEER results are used to identify opportunities for regional regulatory initiatives to streamline workflows, enhance predictability, and strengthen alignment with Good Review Practices and international best practices.
Who the tool is for
Regional regulatory initiatives, of any size or maturity.
How the tool works
There are two versions of the PEER questionnaire: one for national regulatory agencies participating in the regional initiative, and another for industry representatives who have submitted applications to the regional initiative’s joint assessment procedure. Responses are analysed by CIRS.
Practical use cases
National regulatory agenices have used the PEER tool to make recommendations on how to further strengthen ZaZiBoNa, the work-sharing initiative in Southern Africa, as well as the joint assessment procedures of the economic communities of East Africa (EAC) and West Africa (ECO-WAS).
WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) indicators supported by this tool
- GBT RS03.04: Reliance on the decisions of other mature NRAs through documented policy, procedures, and/or mechanisms must be formalised
- GBT RS09.01: NRAs are encouraged to participate in a regional and/or global network in order to promote convergence and harmonisation efforts
Resources
- Sithole T, Ngum N, Owusu-Asante M, Walker S, Salek S. Comparison of Three Regional Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation Initiatives in Africa: Opportunities for Improvement and Alignment. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2024;13:8070.
- Owusu-Asante M, Darko DM, Walker S, Salek S. Assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the economic community of West African States Medicines Regulatory Harmonization initiative by the pharmaceutical industry. Front Pharmacol. 2023;14:1184108
- Owusu-Asante M, Darko DM, Walker S, Salek S. Assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the West Africa medicines regulatory harmonization initiative by the member countries. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Nov 25;13:1069345
- Ngum, N., Chamdimba, C., Mbonyingingo, D., et al. Suggested Improvements to the Current East African Community Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Joint Review Process and a Proposed New Review Model for this Initiative. Pharm Med (2025)
- Ngum N, Mashingia J, Ndomondo-Sigonda M, Walker S and Salek S (2022), Evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the East African community joint assessment procedure by pharmaceutical companies: Opportunities for improvement. Front. Pharmacol. 13:1031289
- Ngum N, Mashingia J, Ndomondo-Sigonda M, Walker S and Salek S (2022) Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the East African Community Joint Assessment Procedure by Member Countries: The Way Forward. Front. Pharmacol. 13:891506
- Sithole T, Mahlangu G, Walker S and Salek S (2022) Pharmaceutical Industry Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the ZaZiBoNa Collaborative Medicines Registration Initiative: The Way Forward. Front. Med. 9:898725
- Sithole T, Mahlangu G, Walker Sand Salek S (2022) Regulatory Authority Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the ZaZiBoNa Collaborative Medicines Registration Initiative: The Way Forward. Front. Med. 9:898743