Letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services on "Gatekeeper" Policy for Science Advisors to International Organizations

April 28, 2005

Until April of 2004, when the World Health Organization or another international group wanted an NIH or CDC expert on health issues to consult, they could simply contact the appropriate person and invite them to attend a meeting or conference.  However, as of April 15, 2004, all that changed.  On that date, the Assistant for International Affairs to then-Secretary Tommy Thompson put out guidance to all Health and Human Services (HHS) employees ending this practice....