The integrity and strong sense of responsibility held by staff
of the country's top food and drug agency have been the driving
force behind successful drug safety campaigns, a top official said
yesterday.
"The achievements of the campaigns during the past 18 months
fully demonstrate that our team is highly capable and reliable,"
vice-commissioner of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA)
Wu Zhen said.
He highlighted successful campaigns to restore the agency's
reputation, which was besmirched by previous corruption
scandals.
Former SFDA commissioner Zheng Xiaoyu was executed in July for
corruption and dereliction of duty. He reportedly gave the green
light to substandard drugs in return for fat kickbacks from
pharmaceuticals manufacturers.
In the most notorious case involving the Heilongjiang-based
Qiqihar No 2 Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, counterfeit Armillarisin A
injections approved during Zheng's tenure claimed 13 lives.
"Zheng's case humiliated the food authority's teams and
tarnished their overall image," Wu said, adding that Zheng's case
was not enough to overshadow the merits and accomplishments of the
country's drug regulators.
Wu targeted the clearing up of negative effects by Zheng's case
as a priority for national campaigns.
The country's drug supply has been made safer since the
comprehensive rectification of four major processes - drug research
and development, production, distribution and clinical use - during
the campaigns, Wu said.
Drug companies withdrew drug registration applications in more
than 7,300, or 24 percent, of cases, which indicated an enhanced
sense of responsibility among enterprises accountable for drug
safety and quality.
In addition, about 300 unqualified drug and medical device
manufacturers have been shut down and 180 kinds of drugs have been
pulled from shelves because of the campaigns, Wu said.
Wu explained that increased economic integration worldwide means
that drug safety is now a global issue, reflecting the growing
importance of international cooperation in addressing concerns.
(China Daily December 4, 2007)
