Which agency oversees the safety and efficacy of medications in the United States?

• A. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• B. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• C. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• D. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Answer: (C)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for overseeing the safety and efficacy of medications in the United States. The FDA's primary role is to ensure that drugs, biologics, and medical devices are safe for public use and that they meet the required standards for effectiveness before they can be marketed and prescribed. This includes rigorous evaluation through clinical trials, monitoring of adverse effects, and ongoing review of products even after they are approved.

The agency establishes regulations and conducts inspections of manufacturing processes to verify compliance with safety standards. By thoroughly reviewing data related to the pharmaceutical products, the FDA plays a crucial role in protecting public health.

Other agencies mentioned in the options have different focuses; for instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deals primarily with environmental protection and safety, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focuses on public health issues and disease control rather than medication efficacy. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is involved primarily in medical research and funding rather than in the regulatory oversight of drugs. Thus, the FDA is the correct and most relevant agency in this context.