Straight shooting from the Washington Post editorial page. And we concur.
Some snippets:
"The FDA has been scolded about this yawning loophole in drug safety for over a decade but has not acted to fill it. Funding is the main problem."
We've been saying this for years and welcome the Post to the fold. Passage of FD Triple A is a giant step in the right direction -- but it is only a first step. Our elected representatives must stay focussed, tone down the rhetoric, and keep their eye on the prize. All of the wasted time and energy being spent trash talking biomarkers and posturing around the Reagan/Udall Foundation would be time and energy better spent addressing FDA's critical funding priorities.
"Without good data, there's no way to create an accurate, risk-based enforcement model, and no way for FDA officials to be held accountable."
It's not sexy -- but this is where the rubber meets the road. The FDA is at the intersection of life-saving data. Now is the time to make it happen via robust IT systems.
"The FDA very evidently needs more money, either through appropriations or user fees (which under current law can't be used for follow-up surveillance inspections). How much is unclear, since FDA officials won't say how much more in the way of money or inspectors is needed to carry out their expanding mission, claiming it's not their job to decide. We don't know whether their silence is attributable to their shyness or threats from the Bush administration. But when the safety of the American public is being risked by their financial inability to do their jobs, they need to speak up. That's the only way lawmakers -- who last year gave the FDA more money than the Bush administration had asked for -- can relieve FDA officials of their remaining excuses for nonperformance."
Yup.
Here's a link to the complete editorial:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030603457.html
It shouldn't take tragic events, such as deaths due to counterfeit drugs, to make this happen. But if that's what it takes to get it done, then let's honor the victims by making real FDA reform a bipartisan public health victory.
Now.
Some snippets:
"The FDA has been scolded about this yawning loophole in drug safety for over a decade but has not acted to fill it. Funding is the main problem."
We've been saying this for years and welcome the Post to the fold. Passage of FD Triple A is a giant step in the right direction -- but it is only a first step. Our elected representatives must stay focussed, tone down the rhetoric, and keep their eye on the prize. All of the wasted time and energy being spent trash talking biomarkers and posturing around the Reagan/Udall Foundation would be time and energy better spent addressing FDA's critical funding priorities.
"Without good data, there's no way to create an accurate, risk-based enforcement model, and no way for FDA officials to be held accountable."
It's not sexy -- but this is where the rubber meets the road. The FDA is at the intersection of life-saving data. Now is the time to make it happen via robust IT systems.
"The FDA very evidently needs more money, either through appropriations or user fees (which under current law can't be used for follow-up surveillance inspections). How much is unclear, since FDA officials won't say how much more in the way of money or inspectors is needed to carry out their expanding mission, claiming it's not their job to decide. We don't know whether their silence is attributable to their shyness or threats from the Bush administration. But when the safety of the American public is being risked by their financial inability to do their jobs, they need to speak up. That's the only way lawmakers -- who last year gave the FDA more money than the Bush administration had asked for -- can relieve FDA officials of their remaining excuses for nonperformance."
Yup.
Here's a link to the complete editorial:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030603457.html
It shouldn't take tragic events, such as deaths due to counterfeit drugs, to make this happen. But if that's what it takes to get it done, then let's honor the victims by making real FDA reform a bipartisan public health victory.
Now.
