This actually a pretty good start and I have had my own campaign of sorts going on with getting the FDA up to speed, and they are definitely having to play catch up, as are some other government agencies. In prior posts I had written that some clinical studies were still being written in long hand and even made a call out to Intel to at least get some inexpensive “Classmate” computers to the agency if cost were an issue with budgets. 
On the other hand, I would also like to see big Pharma contribute to the education process of the consumer. They spend plenty on ads on television to sell and of course there is always the charitable sides of big Pharma, so why not start investing in the consumer, us who takes those pills. I know I harp on this a lot, but big Pharma could certainly look like a shining star if they would contribute to drug safety. So what does this mean? Well some nice grants to educate the public on Personal Health Records and the importance of having one set up would be nice, and it’s not just the consumer who needs the education, it’s hospitals, doctors, everyone all the way around. You have to go where the resources are available to educate the public, and the resources are here, just that very few have realized this.
Would big Pharma like to make sure the side effects are taken seriously and avoid lawsuits, well personal health records are the bit shot at this, and drug interactions are part of the program. I don’t think that there is any ER physician around that would not value this information up front, so come to the “Education” table here and join the group. It is all a team effort and instead of all the questionable marketing that is done on television, help out with making sure the drugs and products produced are safely administered and get some grant money out there where it is needed. 
Technology in healthcare is moving at a very rapid rate and the more education and funds available to educate everyone all the way around, the better results we will have, and perhaps start with the FDA on making sure they have the funds and staff to work as a partner too, so go the next step with partnering for better health care education, as the Personal Health Care records are the gatekeepers to success all the way around, they are more than just records, the integrated information included educates at the same time. A question I ponder and wonder about, does big Pharma recommend personal health records internally for their employees and what does the FDA do for employees internally? Is this a “do as I say” and not a “do as I do” situation? Good place to start is always the “internal sale”, and that way you know the value and what’s going on, again we all want safety with our medications and certainly want to avoid any bad interactions.
There should be immediate on going education at hospitals, pharmacies, physician’s offices, consumer outreach programs helping move this education process and nobody seems to be getting it. BD
It must be the day for CEOs to chat. The Financial Times sat down with Andrew Witty chief of GlaxoSmithKline, and his words for the day were flexibility (on pricing) and diversification (into generics and new acquisitions).
The FT practically invited Witty to thrash the FDA for its newly tough stance on new drug approvals, but he demurred, saying that the agency's attitude reflects society's attitude. And that attitude, for now, is anxious. So Pharma needs to focus on delivering more info, he said. And the FDA definitely needs more resources to do its job well.
Related Reading:
Medicine is a Low Tech Business - Clinical Studies still done on paper too!
FDA Reform Planned
FDA Head: We're Boosting I.T.
Study Calling For Medical Device Information To Better Serve Patients And Doctors from the FDA
GSK's Witty wants deals, more funds for FDA - FiercePharma
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