Former FDA commissioners share ideas on strengthening the agency. (cover story)

UNITED States. Food & Drug Administration; EXECUTIVE advisory bodies; GOVERNMENT agencies; CORPORATE reorganizations; BUSINESS planning; PANEL analysis

The article focuses on the initiative of a panel of former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioners on exchanging ideas for the improvements to the agency. Several issues ranging from restructuring FDA funding to enhancing the agency's legal authority to ensure drug safety had been addressed. It has been agreed by the panelists that the agency is in need of appropriated funds to do its job properly and that future FDA commissioners need terms of sufficient length to effect changes.