Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar issued the following statement on the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement of a guidance laying out new ways to empower patients with over-the-counter drugs:

“FDA’s announcement is another step in our efforts to deliver on President Trump’s blueprint to put American patients first. The agency’s new guidance will offer innovative ways for drug manufacturers to give patients over-the-counter access to drugs they need to treat or manage conditions, offering consumers greater convenience and more affordable options by not having to obtain a prescription. We are proud of the work Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and everyone at FDA are doing to advance patients’ access to treatments at a lower cost, while always maintaining the agency’s gold standard for safety and effectiveness.”

Read FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s statement on the actions here:  https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613692.htm