Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Let's be Nice to the FDA

Two happy people on the Nile

Maybe Congress reads this blog, because they are attempting to do something about the FDA, my long-time punching bag. 

  As this Washington Post article explains, FDA is being encouraged – nay, required – to speed up its activities.  More money is provided, and restrictions are loosened, IF THIS BUNCH OF LEGISLATION IS ENACTED INTO LAW.  You would think this would be a slam-dunk; both parties are in favor, and President Obama already has his approval pen in hand.  Yet this matter has been held up for months, and may not survive.  Why?  Why, politics, of course.

To put it succinctly, Democrats want more, and Republicans worry about where the money will come from.  Then there special-interest groups, ranging from the AFL-CIO to the Breast Cancer Alliance, that want specific fiddles.  My opinion: The perfect can be the death of the good.  For God’s sake, let’s get something written into law quickly, ‘cause only the Lord can predict after the inauguration – and even He is scratching his head!

I should add that I now partially comprehend  why the FDA grinds so slowly; not only are they entangled in restrictions, but they are also short-handed.  Apparently they are 700-odd technical staff short, partly because they can’t meet the salaries available in the private sector.  This pending legislation will fix that, if and when.

Read this.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/long-stalled-fda-reform-sits-on-senates-lame-duck-calendar/2016/11/22/14268224-b040-11e6-840f-e3ebab6bcdd3_story.html

1 comment:

  1. Yup, blowback.
    Today’s news indicates that those two paragons of the Progressive movement – Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders – oppose this bill; they characterize it as corporate welfare aimed at Big Pharma as well as a weakening of our defense against bad drugs. If you read this blog at all carefully you will know what I think of this development.

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