FDA, Military Health System Expand Data-Sharing Agreement

FDA and the Military Health System are expanding an existing information-sharing agreement, Government Health IT reports.

Since July 2007, MHS and FDA have shared information regarding the review and use of FDA drugs, biologics and medical devices. FDA has a similar information-sharing partnership with the Veterans Health Administration.

Now, FDA and MHS' agreement will be expanded to include the use of MHS databases to track unexpected side effects of newly approved prescription drugs. FDA also will use MHS databases to study and track food poisoning outbreaks and bioterrorism incidents.

The MHS patient databases include information on more than nine million active-duty personnel, their families and retirees (Buxbaum, Government Health IT, 7/24).