NIH Policy Open Access Now Appears Less Than Certain

-- Library Journal, 9/13/2004

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias Zerhouni met twice more with stakeholders recently, again reiterating that change was indeed coming to the NIH regarding public availability of the research it funds. Some lawmakers, however, have backed off the idea that the proposed NIH policy would actually be implemented soon. The NIH proposal, now receiving public comment, would compel researchers to deposit copies of their final, peer-reviewed articles in PubMed Central. The articles would then be freely available within six months. Publishers have complained that the proposal will encroach on their business and possibly harm the dissemination of research.

However, a draft statement from Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) said lawmakers intend for the NIH to “bring the various stakeholders to the table and work out a policy on more open access to biomedical research information, without specifying exactly which model will be adopted.” He chairs the Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, which is presiding over the NIH policy. Further, it appears that the Senate is reluctant to get involved. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), who received the AAP’s letter criticizing the NIH proposal, said he would not follow the House’s lead and add a call for public access to a Senate appropriations bill.