AP reports that Food and Drug Administration has recently hired more than 1,300 professional staffers in a move that “officials hope will help it better protect the public health amid rapid technological and scientific change.”
40% or so of the total positions are paid for via PDUFA fees; ergo the new hires will mainly be evaluating new drugs or medical devices and, in some cases, monitoring safety issues.
That’s great news. But where are they all going to park? White Oak isn’t even finished yet and already it’s looking like the seating charts will have to be rearranged – particularly since CDER is getting 663 new staffers.
It's a good problem to have.
CFSAN is slotted to get 104 -- a 10% increase (a good start – but not enough). And ORA will grow by 245. Good news.
1,000 of the new hires have already started, with another 158 due to report later this month. An additional 160 have accepted offers. Of those on the job already, more than 850 are professionals, including chemists, biologists, pharmacologists, statisticians, medical officers, microbiologists and field inspectors.
Of the total 1,317 positions, 770 are new jobs and 547 are posts that were left vacant by people leaving the agency for other jobs or due to retirement.
But it’s not all rosy and it’s not as easy as reporting numbers.
The FDA hired nine cancer specialists, but another 20 rejected offers. "They could not make the money they would be making on the outside if they came into public service," said Kimberly Holden, the FDA’s senior manager directing the recruitment initiative. The agency could offer as much as $275,000 a year, she said, but oncologists can make $400,000 annually outside of government service.
All-in-all, it’s a good start. But it’s just the end of the beginning -- and just barely.
