FDA opens first foreign office in China

The FDA, prompted by increasing concerns about the safety of drugs and drug products imported from other countries, has opened its first foreign office in China, with plans to open others in India, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. The FDA says they are doing this to not only keep a closer eye on potentially contaminated products that may come to the U.S., but also to work more closely with the governments of these countries to address the root causes of drug safety problems, and to help them develop ways to ensure that these kinds of problems never happen.

I welcome this move by the FDA. It shows a greater recognition that tainted drugs entering the United States is a serious problem that not only threatens patient health, it also threatens the reputation of drug manufacturers doing business in China and other foreign countries. As I've mentioned in this blog before, I have had several concerned patients at my pharmacy inquire as to the country of origin of the drugs they are receiving, and any positive steps the FDA can take to help alleviate these concerns and assure drug product quality will be welcomed by me. I also believe that establishing these offices will also help foster international cooperation to ensure drug product safety. Being simply a watchdog is not going to be enough, we need to be willing to share our expertise with other countries to ensure proper safety measures are being met, which will also help with drug product safety in the other countries as well.