PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
Contact: Britani Kessler, D.O., Tel: 703.665.4650
E-mail: pres@amsa.org
Sterling, VA—February 17th, 2015
AMSA/UAEM Supports HEAL Act in Addressing Public Health Predicament of Anti-Microbial Resistance
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) and the Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) strongly support Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CT) recently introduced Helping Effective Antibiotics Last (HEAL) Act that would help combat the public health threat of antimicrobial resistance. The issue of antimicrobial resistance presents unique challenges. Legislation must not only incentivize the development of new antibiotics that address unmet health needs, but also prevent resistance to existing drugs from emerging. The HEAL Act differs from other proposed bills including the Antibiotic Development to Advance Patient Treatment (ADAPT – HR. 3742) and Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics Act (PATH – S.185) in addressing both of these aspects contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
The HEAL Act outlines a more comprehensive approach that would incentivize true innovation and ensure patient safety through high standards for clinical trials and appropriate use of antibiotics. The bill prioritizes regulatory resources for the most urgently needed antibiotics with a streamlined development process. HEAL also helps ensure patient safety in the FDA approval process by preventing the misuse and overuse of these new drugs. As students of medicine and public health, we fully support the HEAL Act’s efforts to help stem the crisis of increasing antimicrobial resistance and see this as a step forward in the effective and safe care of our future patients. AMSA and UAEM students will be on Capitol Hill voicing their support of this critical legislation on February 26th as a part of AMSA’s Annual National Convention.
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American Medical Student Association
AMSA is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. To learn more about AMSA, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at www.amsa.org.
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM)
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) is an international, student-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to medicines worldwide through a combination of university licensing practices, revolutionary research and development practices, and empowering the voices of a new generation of health and science professionals.
