“As the partial US government shutdown continues into its third week, the FDA has been operating at reduced capacity, curbing both domestic food facility inspections and drug submissions. On January 7, seven former FDA commissioners published two papers through Health Affairs and The Aspen Institute that called for the agency to separate entirely from its political administrators.”
“The authors argue that a more autonomous FDA would have greater freedom from political influence, resulting in improved administrative efficiency and a stronger framework for more consistent decision-making. While a major shakeup of the FDA is unlikely in the near future, the ongoing government shutdown has exposed the agency’s vulnerability to political turmoil, and may force policymakers to seriously consider the possibility of an independent FDA…”
“Several potential organisational structures have been proposed for an independent FDA. One model is the Social Security Administration (SSA), which was initially part of HHS but was reconfigured in 1994 as an independent agency with a direct line to Congress via the President for annual budget approvals. Another model is an independent regulatory commission, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is helmed by five commissioners who each serve a fixed seven-year term.”
“An independent FDA would theoretically elevate scientific consensus over external political or social influence, and facilitate more effective implementation of long-term policy. Moreover…” Read the full post here.
Source: US government shutdown: should the FDA go independent? – By GlobalData Healthcare, January 15, 2019. Pharmaceutical Technology.
