FDA Rolls Out “Transparency Initiative”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the first portion of its “Transparency Initiative,” an effort to make clear issues such as basic operations, the decision making process and the process by which drugs are judged and approved.

The FDA’s effort coincides with a larger goal of overall transparency for federal government operations set by the Obama administration.

“This initiative will make information about the FDA more user-friendly and accessible to the public,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg. “It fosters a better understanding about what we do.”

As part of the first phase of the initiative, the FDA has organized a brief curriculum called “FDA Basics.”  Included in this section is a question and answer segment concerning the FDA and the products it regulates, short videos about the activities of the Administration and conversations with agency personnel about their role in day-to-day operations.

Future curriculums featuring senior FDA officials are planned.

As one of her first acts as commissioner, Hamburg organized a task force to address the issue of transparency.  As part of the second phase of the initiative, the task force will recommend ways to make FDA information more accessible and useful to the public, while protecting confidential information.  The final phase will address transparency to regulated industries.