Pronouncing it a critical, patient-focused bill, the Washington, D.C.-based National Health Council (NHC) recently urged U.S. Congress leadership to pass the 21st Century Cures Act for the sake of citizens with diverse diseases and disabilities.
Having passed the House in July 2015, the measure was initially proposed based on counsel from health care stakeholders and was designed to ensure access to treatment.
The council addressed an official letter, co-signed by 217 national, state and local organizations, to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
“This is a patient-focused bill that will advance the discovery and development of treatments, strengthen the patient voice in the research and regulatory environment, increase funding for the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration, and greatly improve our innovation ecosystem,” according to the letter. “Patients simply can't afford to wait -- time is running out.”
Over 133 million Americans suffer from chronic diseases and disabilities. The NHC advocated timely passage of the bill in order to avoid prolonging the waiting period for indispensable care.
NHC was established in 1920 to unite all sectors of the health community, provide a voice for individuals struggling with chronic health issues and their family caretakers. Its membership comprises over 100 national health-oriented organizations and businesses, associations, advocacy groups, nonprofits and pharmacological professionals.
