AAMC March 13 submitted a response to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) request for information (RFI) regarding the strategic vision for the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to “ensure that it remains an international leader in biomedical and health information.” The RFI requested input from stakeholders and the general public in advance of a meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) Working Group on the NLM.
The letter acknowledges NLM’s role in information collection and dissemination, facilitating evidence-based research and practice in academic medicine across the health continuum, and suggests that NLM maintain a focus on accessibility and usability as it expands online data resources, including ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed Central.
The letter also encourages NLM to expand its strategic goal to reduce health disparities and improve health literacy through programs and funding opportunities, and urges NLM to include meaningful representation from patients and members of underserved populations and communities throughout the strategic planning process.
The Working Group on the NLM will present a final report for consideration at the June 11-12 NIH ACD meeting.