The Washington Post reported today that former officials, members of Congress, watchdog groups and various government reports are calling for an overhaul of the FDA, which “desperately needs an infusion of strong leadership, money, technology and personnel -- and perhaps a major restructuring.” (11/26/08 Washington Post, “Ailing FDA May Need a Major Overhaul, Officials and Groups Say.”)

The article is worth the read and discusses some of the FDA’s recent failures to monitor imported drugs and consumer products, including contaminated heparin, toothpaste, and pet food from China. As similarly opined in this blog recently, the article also discusses the view that more needs to be done than simply starting to open offices overseas, including sharply boosting inspections abroad, developing strict new regulatory standards, and updating and integrating the FDA's computer systems. To read a copy of this article, click here.

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