US FDA to expand on-line distribution of agency's consumer health information

The US Food and Drug Administration announced that it will collaborate with the web site Drugs.com to expand access to the FDA's consumer health information. Drugs.com seeks to provide patients with information to better manage their own health care and to assist in the reduction of medication errors. It attracts more than12 million unique visitors each month.

"The FDA's partnership with Drugs.com means that reliable, useful and timely health information will be available to an even wider audience,' said Beth Martino, the FDA's Associate Commissioner for External Affairs. 'Partnerships like this are an important part of the FDA's effort to ensure the public has easy access to reliable, useful information that can help people protect and improve their health,' she added.

The FDA's partnership with Drugs.com will provide consumers with a joint resource on the Drugs.com site featuring FDA Consumer Update articles, videos and slideshows. The partnership will also provide access to FDA health information on Drugs.com's mobile phone platform, the agency stated.