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# FDA Makes ‘Great Strides’ on Patient Perspective: NHC
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-makes-great-strides-on-patient-perspective-nhc/
- Published: 2016-02-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T02:38:21.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, Devices, #legacy-id-D5134862

> The National Health Council (NHC), which says it represents more than 133 million people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers, says that FDA “has made great strides in implementing programs and initiatives across the agency that seek to collect patient perspectives and experiences to inform product reviews.” [Responding](http://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org/sites/default/files/National%5FHealth%5FCouncil%5FNHC%5FComment%5FLetter%5Fon%5FPatient%5FParticipation.pdf?ref=fdaweb.com) to a docket on FDA activities for patient participation in medical product discussions, NHC urges the agency to continue to explore ways to enhance the usefulness of existing patient perspective programs to both FDA and the patient community. “FDA should critically evaluate its engagement approaches, assess whether there are ways in which patients can be engaged more effectively, and share those learnings with the public,” it says.  
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> The advocacy group also calls on FDA to increase transparency about how patient information is being reviewed internally and incorporated into the agency’s decision-making process. And it recommends that FDA increase available opportunities for engagement with the agency outside of formal public meetings, such as in the Patient-Focused Drug Development program.  
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> “FDA can capitalize on its patient engagement work by helping foster patient engagement in the research and development process,” the letter concludes. FDA can help companies by: **(1)** encouraging the development of a common definition of meaningful and appropriate patient engagement; **(2)** providing guidance to product developers regarding appropriate patient engagement methods; and **(3)** creating certainty for product developers by offering guidance on the types of patient information that would be useful to the agency and how this information would be incorporated into FDA’s decision-making process.