National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) - Comment

The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) appreciates this opportunity to comment on ways in which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can make useful and understandable information about its activities and decision-making more readily available to the public. NBCC is a grassroots advocacy organization with the mission to eradicate breast cancer by focusing the administration, U.S. Congress, research institutions and consumer advocates on substantive approaches relating to breast cancer. To achieve this mission, NBCC has created and mobilized a powerful, effective and diverse network of trained grassroots activists, giving breast cancer a meaningful voice in Washington, D.C. and state capitals, in laboratories and health care institutions. Although NBCC applauds recent efforts by FDA to increase transparency and accountability, we are concerned about the “internal” nature of the Transparency Task Force. NBCC strongly believes that inclusion of educated health care consumers and trained advocates in the Transparency Task Force will greatly enhance transparency and accountability at FDA.