National Pharmaceutical Council Announces New Strategic Focus, Search for New ...( RESTON Va. Sept. 4 -- The Nation...),Health

RESTON, Va., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) announced today a new strategic focus on evidence-based medicine (EBM) for health care decision making.

While NPC's overarching mission remains to sponsor and conduct scientific analyses of the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals and the clinical and economic value of pharmaceutical innovation, the focus on EBM represents a new priority for NPC. NPC will be reorganizing and hiring additional staff with the clinical, scientific, and methodological expertise necessary to the focus on EBM.

"NPC has always worked on behalf of the research-based pharmaceutical industry to anticipate pivotal issues, engage with stakeholders to shape workable solutions, and sponsor research to inform choices facing health care decision makers," said Joseph M. Mahady, President of Global Business for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and NPC Board Chairman. "In prioritizing NPC's activities, the Board unanimously agreed that NPC should focus on evidenced-based coverage and access as the highest priority moving forward."

The new focus on EBM will build on NPC's history of working with researchers, patients, medical professionals, and payers, including employers and government officials. Recent NPC work on EBM has included engagement with the Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Evidence-Based Medicine, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Health Industry Forum. In pursuing its new focus on EBM, NPC will:

-- Facilitate dialogue between the pharmaceutical industry and other

stakeholders;

-- Create awareness and understanding of industry expertise and

perspectives on EBM; and

-- Participate with major stakeholders in the EBM policy debate and

the pursuit of solutions.

Coinciding with the announcement of the new strategic focus, NPC President Karen Williams has announced she will be leaving her current position. Acc
'/>"/>