Congress May Make Move On FDA Funding This Week

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 22 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Legislation that would grant much-needed funding to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) drug safety initiatives is likely to be reviewed by Congress before legislators break for the Memorial Day holiday.

The funds, $275 million, were included into the Senate's bill to grant additional monies for the Iraq War by Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) based on a "professional judgment" letter sent by FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, which provided legislators with an assessment of the agency's immediate resource needs.

The nearly $100 million earmarked for medical product and drug safety activities would allow the agency to implement many new drug safety initiatives required by the recent Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act, including pediatric drug and device safety, post-market study commitments, and improved drug surveillance and labeling.

ASHP is an active member of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, a broad group of patient groups, consumer advocates, biomedical research advocates, health professionals and industry officials, who work to assure the FDA has sufficient resources to protect patients and consumers.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists