Another article about the trouble at the FDA

Today's Washington Post has an article that discusses the issues facing the FDA....and the article does not paint a pretty picture. William Hubbard, a long time former employee at the agency is quoted as saying:

"FDA is close to being at a tipping point -- the agency is hanging on by its fingertips in protecting us,"....If something is not done, they could become a failed institution, and no one wants that. The FDA is not only important to protecting the public health but also to the industries it regulates."

David Ross, another former FDA employee says:

"I'm afraid we're going to see more horrible things happen if we don't get our act together on this."

The problems are not just related to Pharma though according to Christopher Waldrop of the Consumer Federation of America.

"Food safety tends to get short shrift...The drug side tends to get much more attention than the food side. Food is equally important and needs to get the attention it deserves."

Some of the problems the article cites are woefully inadequate and antiquated computer systems
and a lack of resources and people with which to execute much needed inspections....especially overseas.

Today's article in the Washington Post couple with the recent New York Times Magazine article [discussed in an earlier post] present us with a frightening commentary with regards to the state of the FDA. Unfortunately the problems won't be solved overnight. But there is no question that the problems at the Agency need to be addressed quickly and aggressively....for all of our health and safety.