During the current pandemic, Congress continues to address the obstacles around public health emergencies through legislation, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) wrote in a recent opinion piece published in the American Healthcare Journal.
The newly signed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), for example, includes a bill long championed by Rep. Latta to make it easier for Americans to protect themselves against COVID-19 by reforming and modernizing the way over-the-counter (OTC) products are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Nearly all Americans purchase OTC products regularly, and we’ve seen just how important they can be to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and treat those who are afflicted,” wrote Rep. Latta in “Modernizing The OTC Product Approval Process,” which was published in the April 22 American Healthcare Journal. “With OTC products like hand sanitizer playing an important role in helping people stay safe, approval of these products should be quick and streamlined.”
Rep. Latta noted that the traditional FDA process for OTC drugs and products is too burdensome, doesn’t use the most up-to-date science, and limits the development of new OTC options.
“That’s why making this fix now was so important,” he wrote, referring to the bipartisan Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act of 2019, H.R. 3443, which he introduced in June 2019 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) to clarify the regulatory framework with respect to certain nonprescription drugs that are marketed without an approved drug application. The measure became law in March as part of the CARES Act.
Congress needs to ensure that the laws and rules on the books don’t hinder the efforts of Americans working on the front lines to respond to public health emergencies like COVID-19, the congressman wrote.
“Reforming the way OTC products are made is one way we’ve reduced barriers to innovation and provided certainty for consumers,” wrote Rep. Latta. “More innovation and competition mean better products and lower costs for American families. This will pay dividends as we seek to win the fight against COVID-19, and it also will benefit us well into the future.”