Medical Safety

America’s doctors and healthcare facilities offer health products, therapies and treatments that were unimaginable 50 years ago. The development and use of biologics such as blood products, vaccines and gene therapies has exploded in recent years, providing hope and relief for patients when no other medical treatments are available. We should be able to trust the pharmaceuticals, medical devices and the hospitals we visit to improve and save our lives.

The Pew Health Group works to protect the public by advancing solutions to ensure the safety of medical products and services. Our initiatives, including established programs on prescription drug safety and the misuse of antibiotics on factory farms, increase both government and corporate accountability. Our campaigns carefully asses health risks, promote safe practices, and strengthen federal and state laws and regulations. The work is grounded on sound science and the realistic evaluation of the policy environment to promote reform.

  • Genetics and Public Policy Center

    The Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University is designed to help key decision-makers respond to the challenges arising from scientific advances in the field of reproductive genetics and from genetic testing in general.
  • Human Health and Industrial Farming

    To preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics use in humans, the Human Health and Industrial Farming campaign works to curtail indiscriminate antibiotic treatment in livestock, which can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant infections in people.
  • Pandemic Planning

    The Pandemic Preparedness Initiative worked to ensure that decision-makers in the public and private sectors are taking appropriate steps to protect the public and the economy from a potential pandemic.
  • Pew Prescription Project

    Pew works to reduce risks from unsafe prescription drugs by seeking changes in federal law and regulation that improve oversight of drug manufacturing and curb problems stemming from conflicts of interest.

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