We’re Speaking Out on Health Issues

NCHR scientists and health policy experts provide written and oral statements on a wide range of topics.

Here are many of the ways we have been Speaking Out on Health Policy Issues for the last few years. Whether the topic is legislation intended to cure diseases, proposed bans on BPA or other chemicals that disrupt your hormones, the importance of including women, people of color, and patients over 65 in clinical trials, or many other topics, you’ll gain a better understanding of our evidence-based analyses by reading these letters, statements, and testimony.

Here are the ways we have been Speaking out on Medical Treatments and Products, such as prescription drugs and medical devices that the FDA is considering approving, or is considering taking off the market because of serious risks. Whether the topic is Chantix, Addyi, Yaz, Essure, or medical products you’ve never heard of, you can find out more about what is known and not known about the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of products by looking through this section of our website.

Are “Gummy Bear” Breast Implants the Safer Implants?

Nova Science Publishers, 2017. Thinking about breast implants? Our new book chapter tells you what you need to know.

NCHR Testimony at the FDA about Depot Buprenorphine, RBP-6000

October 31, 2017. In conclusion, to reduce deaths and addiction due to opioids, we must demand more from everyone. Prescribers must be better informed, REMS and ETASU (Elements to Assure Safe Use) must be sufficiently stringent, and scientific methods used to assess treatments must be sound. Given serious risks and concerns outweigh this drug’s minimal benefits, we cannot recommend approval of this drug based on current data.

NCHR Testimony at the FDA about Depot Buprenorphine, CAM2038

November 1, 2017. In conclusion, we all want more options to reduce opioid addiction, but if the FDA approves treatments that are less safe and less effective than those already available, we are worried that this will not help. Scientific methods used to assess treatments must be sound. Specific doses need to be evaluated for safety and effectiveness based on reasonable sample sizes for at least 24 weeks. Given potentially serious risks that outweigh this drug’s minimal benefits, we cannot recommend approval of this drug based on current data.

Comments to FDA on Proposed Delay of Compliance Date for Nutrition Rule and Serving Size Rule

November 1, 2017: The National Center for Health Research (NCHR) strongly opposes the FDA’s proposed delay in implementing updated Nutrition Facts and Serving Size labels. They emphasized that postponing these changes hinders Americans’ ability to make informed dietary choices, particularly concerning added sugars and realistic serving sizes, which are crucial for managing health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

NCHR Comments on HHS Draft Strategic Plan FY2018-2022

October 26, 2017. The HHS has drafted a strategic plan for implementation over the next several years. We object to language that is non-scientific and themes which weight political rhetoric and ideology over sound scientific principles. Read more of our comments here.