National Center for Health Research

04/04/2026

Trump announced a 100% tariff on some imported medications—unless companies lower prices or move production to the U.S.

The policy is meant to reduce drug costs and strengthen domestic supply chains. But many economists warn that tariffs are often absorbed by U.S. importers, which could ultimately lead to higher prices for patients.

This comes at a critical time, as 6 in 10 Americans say they’re worried about affording prescription medications.

Patients need real solutions to high drug costs—not policies that risk making medications even less affordable.

President Donald Trump took two actions Thursday to adjust his evolving tariff regime: a 100 percent tariff on some imported drugs and adjusted levies on industrial metals.

04/03/2026

Good news from Malden, Massachusetts.

After years of community advocacy, the City of Malden announced that Roosevelt Park will be renovated with natural grass instead of artificial turf.

This decision has important public health and environmental benefits. Natural grass is a safer, more sustainable space for children, families, and athletes.

It helps reduce heat, absorb rainwater and runoff, and avoid exposure to microplastics and toxic rubber materials commonly found in artificial turf.

The project, funded by federal dollars, will begin this summer with the removal of contaminated soil and installation of new grass.

This is a powerful example of how community engagement can shape healthier environments.

We appreciate the advocacy of Safe Healthy Playing Fields and partners.

Delays caused by opponents to project, agreement to remove urban fill drove construction, soil remediation costs out of city’s reach

04/03/2026

Why was this drug approved without understanding how deadly it could be?

The FDA recently realized 8 patients taking Tavneos (avacopan) for the autoimmune disease vasculitis died and dozens had severe liver injuries. FDA wants the company to stop selling the drug, but the company has refused.

Why doesn’t the FDA just rescind the drug’s approval? The law requires the company’s cooperation to move quickly.

When a company doesn't cooperate with FDA's request, the law gives companies the opportunity to delay the inevitable.

This is a warning to all patients (not just those taking these drugs) and to Congress: when the FDA lowers the standards for approval to speed up the process based on preliminary, "promising" evidence, patients will die as a result.

Eight deaths and dozens of DILI cases linked to avacopan for ANCA-associated vasculitis

04/02/2026

Are "everywhere chemicals" in plastics putting millions of newborns at risk?

A mind-boggling study says 2 common chemicals (phthalates) in plastic and products that smell good nearly 2 million premature births and 74,000 infant deaths globally in a single year.

These chemicals are found in food packaging, cosmetics, and even medical products. They act as “endocrine disruptors”, which disrupt hormones and harm the placenta during pregnancy. They can also harm children and adults.

We can avoid microwaving plastics and choose "phthalate-free" products, but these chemicals really are everywhere. Tell EPA and HHS we need stronger regulations and safer materials to protect babies, children, and adults!

A chemical used in toys and consumer products is linked to thousands of infant deaths and millions of preterm births worldwide, a new study found.

04/02/2026

Can five extra minutes of sleep and a few green beans or stalks of broccoli really help you live longer?

According to a new study of 60,000 people, the answer is yes.

Researchers found a powerful "unique synergy" between sleep, physical activity, and nutrition.

Adding 5 extra minutes of sleep, 2 minutes of exercise, and half a serving of veggies a day can increase your lifespan by a year and give you overall benefits to your health.

Take small, everyday choices and improve your health!

Three manageable tweaks to behavior could have an outsize influence on how long and well we live, a study involving tens of thousands of people shows.

04/02/2026

In this short video from the recent meeting of the American Society of Pharmacovigilance, NCHR's president pointed out that AI should help us identify serious side effects and complications from specific medical products.

Supermarket chains keep track of complaints about food products and they remove them from their shelves.

Why can't the FDA keep track and publicly share information about medical products that harm patients, and get them off the market?

03/31/2026

Gilead makes billions in profit—so why are they refusing to sell this HIV prevention drug (also called PrEP) to those who need it most?

Doctors Without Borders is calling out Gilead for blocking direct access to Lenacapavir, a HIV prevention injection administered only twice a year. It could save millions more lives if made more widely available.

Despite public funding helping develop this medicine, Gilead is limiting its availability while excluding entire regions from low-cost generic options.

HIV prevention measures that are only twice a year are more likely to be effective. Gilead should help save more lives.

03/31/2026

Veterans sacrifice their physical and mental health to protect our constitutional rights. In return, President Abraham Lincoln said we should "care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan".

If veterans face up to 6 years in federal prison when they later exercise those rights, something is terribly wrong.

U.S. Army veteran Bajun Mavalwalla is facing felony conspiracy charges for participating in a peaceful anti-ICE protest.

Subjecting anyone—let alone veterans who may have unhealed mental wounds from their service—to extreme stress for exercising their constitutional rights is unacceptable.

The government is supposed to help improve veterans' health, not harm it. Who is responsible for this outrage and who will do something to right this wrong?

When a U.S. Army veteran was arrested on conspiracy charges for his role in an anti-ICE protest in Spokane, Washington, it was the first time an American had faced those charges in connection with the protests. Some legal experts saw it as an escalation in efforts to suppress and criminalize First A...

03/31/2026

AI regulations, education loans, ways to get U.S. Health Policy moving in the right direction, and more in our March 2026 Digest!

Email from National Center for Health Research   Health News Digest, March 2026 We're Speaking Out For You Are student loan cuts threatening your access to healthcare? The Department of Education is p

03/30/2026

Did you know that our immigration policies have left 11,000 children who are U.S. citizens stranded without their parents in just the last 7 months?

A shocking new report reveals these frightening statistics and that immigration authorities are deporting mothers at four times the previous rate.

This is traumatic for children, leaving American-born children from loving homes stranded with strangers, facing the foster care system, or forced into exile in foreign countries.

A ProPublica analysis of new ICE data shows that Trump has detained parents of U.S. citizen children at about twice the rate that Biden did, and moms have been deported four times as often.

03/30/2026

Are your plastic food containers leaking chemicals and microplastic into your leftovers?

A BBC article featuring NCHR President Dr. Diana Zuckerman exposes exactly how everyday plastic containers contaminate our meals.

Acidic foods like tomato sauce, fatty foods like lasagna, and anything warm or hot are especially likely to be contaminated by dangerous chemicals from plastic, especially if the container is old.

"Microwave safe" only means the plastic will not melt, so experts strongly recommend switching to glass or ceramic to protect your health.

Are plastic food containers safe? We look at chemical leaching, heating food in plastic, BPA bans and what experts recommend for safer storage.

03/27/2026

The FDA warned biotech company ImmunityBio over misleading claims about its cancer drug.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, CEO of ImmunityBio, promoted as a treatment that could cure or even prevent many types of cancer. It doesn't. It's only approved for a specific type of bladder cancer. We agree with FDA that these claims violate federal rules because they create a misleading impression and fail to disclose potential risks and side effects.

We thank FDA for stopping this inaccurate claim that would mislead patients! We need accurate, evidence-based communication in medicine. Misleading claims cost patients a lot of money, increase the cost of health insurance for everyone, and can be very harmful to patients.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials posted a warning Tuesday about misleading statements made by biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who recently told podcast listeners that his…