Which of the following is a major responsibility of the FDA?

The major responsibility of the FDA, or the Food and Drug Administration, is to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs. This involves a comprehensive evaluation process where the FDA assesses new medications before they can be marketed. The agency reviews the data from clinical trials to verify that a drug is safe for consumer use and that it effectively treats the condition for which it is approved. This process is critical to protect public health, as it helps to prevent harmful or ineffective products from reaching the market.

Ensuring drug safety and efficacy also extends to monitoring drugs post-approval, assessing any new data regarding their use and potential side effects, and enforcing compliance with regulations. This ongoing oversight helps to maintain high standards within the pharmaceutical industry and ensures that patients can trust the medications they are prescribed.

In contrast, conducting pharmaceutical research is typically the role of pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions, not the FDA itself. Regulating drug prices is not within the FDA's purview, as this is generally managed through economic and policy frameworks. Additionally, providing health insurance to patients is a function of health care policies and insurance companies, not within the scope of the FDA's responsibilities.