AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, issued the following statement on the role that evidence-based science should play in federal health policymaking:
“The AAMC remains committed to working with all branches of the federal government to improve the health of people everywhere. Specifically, it stands firmly behind the following core principles that should form the bedrock of federal health policymaking:
- Federal agencies and other areas of the federal government with jurisdiction over policies that impact the health and well-being of the nation should formulate their decisions on the basis of established evidence and scientific discovery. Federal health care and public health policies, initiatives, and rules impact all aspects of patients’ lives. Evidence-based policymaking leads to the most beneficial and impactful rules and is essential to address the country's most pressing needs.
- Federal agencies’ obligation to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs, devices, and biologics on the basis of science-driven review and approval is critical to improving the health and lives of all Americans. Research supported by the federal government and conducted at academic institutions across the country has provided the foundation for nearly every test, treatment, or cure that has helped Americans live longer, heathier lives. It is imperative that we continue to leverage our national investment in research to inform policy choices.
- To develop policy, federal agencies must engage with credible experts and organizations, including scientific institutions and researchers, to utilize the most current, evidence-based research. The partnership between academic medicine, research institutions, and the federal government has made the United States the world leader in innovation. As a global leader in research and science, the United States is recognized as the primary contributor to the shared goal of understanding health and disease to save and improve lives.”