Under the direction of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy, the AIFA co-ordinates all activities related to pharmaceuticals and it operates autonomously and transparently. Pharmaceutical policies are set by the agency and are supposed to be applied uniformly across the country. Through negotiation with phannaceutical companies, it determines the price of medicines reimbursed by the NHS. The value and cost of medicine are also managed by the agency in order to ensure rapid access of innovative and efficient drugs.