On Health Policy Archives

NCHR Comment on the Reauthorization of MDUFA

September 4, 2025: NCHR’s written public comment to FDA on MDUFA says user fees should support improvements in safety and effectiveness by paying for salaries for staff to improve premarket review, post-market surveillance and other activities, and inspections of manufacturing facilities. Industry has benefitted from MDUFA’s speedier reviews and more meetings with FDA staff, but what patients and consumers need most is safer and more effective medical devices. We deserve clear information about risks and benefits, and we can’t get that when 96+% of devices are not studied in clinical trials before being sold.

NCHR Public Comment on the Continued Implementation of the National Youth Tobacco Survey

In our public comment to the CDC, we strongly supported the continued operation of the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) for the 2026-2028 cycle. NYTS is the cornerstone of public health surveillance in this field and we reminded CDC and FDA that evaluating the youth use of tobacco products is an essential tool of U.S. public health strategies to reduce cancer, heart disease, and chronic diseases that are key to the MAHA movement.

After 10 Years, the FDA Is Still Letting Women Down

This excellent Drugwatch article explains that FDA lets women down when they approve drugs and devices for cancer and many other serious diseases, which often don’t work well on women and can be harmful. The article quotes Dr. Diana Zuckerman and other experts, and provides examples of specific medical products that you may have used or want to avoid.

NCHR Written Comments on the Reauthorization of PDUFA

August 14, 2025: National Center for Health Research written comment urges FDA to use PDUFA user fees to improve drug safety and effectiveness, not just faster approvals. All programs included in Commitment Letter should emphasize the scientific standards and evidence that will ensure that drugs and biologics have meaningful benefits for patients that outweigh any risks.

NCHR Public Comment on Improving the Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA IV)

National Center for Health Research’s/Our written comment on GDUFA IV urges the FDA to use generic drug user fees to pay for staff and resources that improve generic drug safety and equivalence, not just speedy review. We point out that hundreds of generic drugs that are still for sale have been found to be contaminated, the wrong dosage, or otherwise unsafe or ineffective for patients. To regain the trust of all/cancer patients and health professionals, FDA needs to do more testing and inspections and make sure that bad drugs are recalled.