Poll: Public Wants Faster Turnaround for New Drugs, Medical Devices
WASHINGTON—February 23, 2010—Research!America urges the President and Congress to make research part of the discussion at the President's health care summit on February 25.
"To truly improve the health of all Americans, our health care system must have a stronger foundation of research," said John Edward Porter, former Illinois Congressman and chair of Research!America. "Investing in medical research brings hope for solutions to diseases that currently have none, and it controls costs by basing our health care on the best science, telling us which tests and treatments work best for which patients. It also gives us a stronger economic future by creating more knowledge-based jobs."
Mary Woolley, president of Research!America, said, "With health care costs overwhelming our economy, it is time to do more as a nation to speed up the delivery of better, smarter care. Americans have faith in our scientists and research institutions but think we can do more to speed up that process. In our latest poll, 72% of Americans say they are confident in our current system for reviewing the effectiveness and safety of new medicines and medical devices before making them available, but 41% say the approval process takes too long. Speeding up our process without sacrificing safety is clearly important for health and also for maintaining global leadership. We know from prior polls that Americans think we are not funding our nation's research agencies—NIH, CDC, AHRQ, FDA—at levels consistent with scientific opportunity."
Woolley continued, "It is also time to pay more than lip service to prevention and wellness. These represent the kind of ‘game-changers' we need to turn around emerging epidemics like childhood obesity. In a poll we commissioned last year, 72% said it is very important to include prevention and wellness in reform. As the President and Congress discuss health care reform this week, we urge them to address the public's clear call to prioritize research and prevention."
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, Research!America is supported by member organizations representing 125 million Americans. Visit www.researchamerica.org.
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