We expect healthcare decisions at the highest levels to be made without political interference. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an autonomous and nonpartisan government agency situated within the legislative branch. It offers auditing, evaluative, and investigative services to the United States Congress. You may have heard it called the “congressional watchdog.”
The GAO Report 04/20/2022
On April 20, 2022, the GAO released a report titled, “Scientific Integrity: HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference.” This report detailed the GAO’s investigation into four federal agencies: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
The GAO’s conclusion was clear: there was political interference in all the agencies. Additionally, there was no mechanism for employees to report it. GAO then made recommendations to CDC, FDA, NIH, and HHS,. These included that they develop procedures for reporting and addressing allegations of political interference and train staff on how to report such allegations. HHS concurred with the recommendations.
You can read the report here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104613
Embrace evidence-based practice. Keep medical decisions free from politics. Uphold transparency, objectivity, and patient-centered care. Advance the well-being of individuals and communities. Prioritize evidence over politics in healthcare decisions.