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USP Launches a Public Policy CenterUSP Uniquely Positioned to Consider Health, Pharmaceutical Science, and Patient Safety Policy Issues
Rockville, Maryland, June 19, 2001-The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) announces the launch of its Public Policy Center (PPC), one of seven public health programs. The USP PPC is being established to improve the public health through the development of objective health and science policy research. The topics that the PPC will consider include science and health policy issues associated with high quality, safe and effective drug and therapeutic products, optimal health care information and patient safety. USP Senior Vice President for Program Development Jacqueline L. Eng is directing the Center.
"While the USP PPC is new, USP's involvement in policy issues is not," said USP Executive Vice President and CEO Roger L. Williams, M.D. "USP has been a consistent contributor over its 180-year history to public policy deliberations through our open and collaborative drug standards development process. We anticipate that the USP Public Policy Center will contribute significantly to public policy debate and serve as a resource to federal and state legislative regulatory bodies, to the health and scientific communities, and to patient advocates and consumers."
The Center's operational process will consist of several elements. The primary mechanism for selecting policy topics will be through meetings of stakeholders who have the ability to affect health and science policy change or who may be affected by a change in policy. Until an Advisory Board of health, science, and public policy experts is formed, the USP Board of Trustees will review ideas generated. Advisory committees, comprised of stakeholders and other experts, will be established for all topics that the Board determines merit pursuit. The project advisory committees will define the strategy by which an issue can be most effectively pursued, and will guide PPC implementation and management of the projects. Center staff will disseminate issue papers, research findings, and policy alternatives to stakeholders and the public.
"The Public Policy Center will conduct its work with the same level of integrity and independence for which USP is recognized nationally and internationally," said Center Director Jacqueline L. Eng. "It will differ in some respects from other policy organizations as it will build upon USP's unique ability to bring together differing perspectives from across the health care continuum to find solutions to complex science and health care issues."
The Center will utilize the expertise of well-qualified researchers and experienced policy analysts. The Center also will seek to build collaborative relationships with other health and science policy centers, private foundations, and governmental entities whose expertise will contribute to the development of evidence-based alternatives for policy decision makers.
The Center recently has received a grant from the Commonwealth Fund (PPC News Release #0101) to support collaboration among the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly the Health Care Financing Administration), and PPC. The funds will support a fall 2001 "appropriate drug use" conference for state health policy leaders who have responsibilities for state-run Medicaid and pharmaceutical benefit programs.
The USP Public Policy Center is seeking collaborative and funding partners with whom to engage in policy analysis and research. For further information, visit www.usp.org/ppc. The Center's e-mail address is [email protected].
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USP-The Standard of QualityU.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), a non-government organization, establishes state-of-the-art standards to ensure the quality of medicines and other health care technologies. These standards are developed by a unique process of public involvement and are accepted worldwide. USP also helps to monitor quality and prevent errors in human and veterinary medicine through national reporting programs. USP is a not-for-profit organization that achieves its goals through the contributions of volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other health care professions, as well as science, academia, the U.S. government, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer organizations. For more information, visit www.usp.org.
Additional information available at www.usp.org/ppc: * About the Public Policy Center* USP Policy Relevant Initiatives* Opportunities for Collaboration with the USP Public Policy Center* USP Public Policy Center Frequently Asked Questions
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