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.

NCHR Testimony at the FDA Pregnancy Registries Meeting

May 28, 2014. Pregnancy exposure registries tend to be too small and have often not recruited sufficient numbers of racial and ethnic minorities. The biggest challenge is obtaining information on a drug’s safety during pregnancy as quickly as possible after a new drug is marketed.

NCHR Comments on the Reclassification and Renaming of Shortwave Diathermy

May 21, 2014. The National Center for Health Research strongly opposes the reclassification of the shortwave diathermy (SWD) for any use into class II (special controls).

Letter to Senator Warren Thanking Her and Other Women Senators for Urging FDA Commissioner Hamburg to Improve Representation in Clinical Research

May 8, 2014. We thanked 15 women Senators for urging FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to improve the representation of women and minorities in clinical research.

Coalition Comments to FDA Urging Stronger FDA Guidelines on Drug Ads

May 2, 2014. We strongly oppose the guidance. These guidelines are aimed at clarifying guidelines developed before the law regarding distributing scientific and medical publications on unapproved new uses (off-label) of medical products sunset in 2006. It fails to follow the law or to protect patients and the public health.

Statement of Dr. Diana Zuckerman on FDA’s Proposed Order for Pelvic Mesh

April 30, 2014. We strongly support the FDA decision to require proof of safety and effectiveness of surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in clinical trials.