As US Congress prepares to vote on the most significant prescription drug safety legislation in 45 years, a new Consumer Reports poll finds that the American public strongly backs a host of key safety reforms.
Nine out of 10 agree that all clinical drug trial results should be made public, and that the government should have the power to require warning labels and follow-up studies on drugs with safety problems.
In general, the survey found consumers support the government taking whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of prescription drugs — 84 percent agree that the government should “have the authority to take any action necessary” to ensure drug safety, with 50 percent strongly agreeing.
Also, more than 60 percent of Americans agree that the Food and Drug Administration and Congress have failed to adequately protect consumers from harmful prescription drugs.
“The message we’re hearing from consumers couldn’t be clearer — they want strong laws to ensure our prescription drugs are as safe and effective as possible,” said Jim Guest, CEO of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, http://www.ConsumerReports.org.
“Right now drug companies can game the system by touting the positive results from their drug studies, while downplaying information about harmful side effects,” Guest added. “Americans are fed up with being kept in the dark about critical health and safety information, and they overwhelmingly want change.”