FDA Head Said To Be ‘Incapable’
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Washington — The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Andrew von Eschenbach, isn’t doing his job and hasn’t asked for enough money to inspect overseas drugmakers, a senior lawmaker said yesterday at a hearing.
Representative John Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan who is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, pointed his finger at Mr. von Eschenbach and repeatedly asked the FDA chief how much it would cost to do more inspections. Mr. Dingell objected when the commissioner didn’t provide specifics.
Mr. Dingell and other lawmakers said the FDA must conduct more inspections of companies sending drugs to America to ensure they are safe. Lawmakers cited deaths and allergic reactions linked to contaminated versions of the blood-thinner heparin from China and described other tainted products, including toothpaste, that were shipped to America.
“You cannot do your job, you are not doing your job,” Mr. Dingell told Mr. von Eschenbach, who was a witness at the hearing before the energy and commerce panel’s investigations subcommittee. “You simply are absolutely incapable of addressing your responsibilities.”
