Full Text: Letter From 90 Research Organizations (including ARL) to Congress Opposing Research Works Act

The current NIH policy, with its 12-month delay in public access, has a proven track record of delivering positive benefits to U.S. taxpayers, while holding the government accountable for public investment in scientific research. It provides access to more than a half million individual users each day, including health care professionals, patients, caregivers and their families. People rely on the accessibility of this information to improve their understanding of the medical conditions they are facing as well as their quality of care.
As of today, the PubMed Central database contains more than 115,000 articles on hypertension research, 150,000 on diabetes research, and more than 110,000 on heart disease research. U.S. citizens whose tax dollars underwrite this research, believe that crucial details of the most recent medical advancements in these areas should be available to them, and to the doctors and caregivers whose responsibilities are the health and long life of all Americans. Access to up-to- date, health-related information plays a crucial role in ensuring that patients are as educated as possible about their individual situations, including the latest therapies. PubMed Central ensures that access, after a 12-month delay, for patients, as well as students, physicians, and others who do not have ready access to the exclusive publications.

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See Also: New Document from NIH: Public Access Policy Implications (February 2, 2012)