The State Agency of Medicines (SAM) is a governmental body with the aim to

• ensure that medicines approved for use in Estonia for the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of human and animal diseases are proven to be efficacious, of high quality and safe;
• promote the rational use of medicines;
• ensure the protection of the safety and rights of the clinical trial participants in Estonia;
• ensure that cells, tissues and organs used in the treatment of humans in Estonia are proven to be safe and of high quality;
• ensure that narcotic and psychotropic substances and their precursors are used appropriately and in accordance with international conventions.

The Estonian Centre on Medicines was set up by the Ministry of Health in April 11, 1991, before the Estonian independence was restored. By creating the State Agency of Medicines (SAM) in 1993 the Government finalised the structure of the drug regulatory authorities in Estonia.

Currently the SAM is an agency under the Ministry of Social Affairs. The SAM has 6 departments and over 90 employees. Our main office is in Tartu, but there is an office in Tallinn as well. The Director General of the SAM is Dr Kristin Raudsepp.

Further information may be found here. [2]