News

Reuters

“President Barack Obama’s choices to lead the Food and Drug Administration place an emphasis on public health and safety at an agency that has struggled with contaminated food and serious drug side effects.

“Dr. Margaret Hamburg, named by Obama on Saturday to serve as FDA commissioner, served as New York City’s health commissioner, where she was known for a program that sharply cut tuberculosis infection rates, and has experience on issues ranging from AIDS to reduction of biological threats.

“Obama appointed Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the current health commissioner in Baltimore, as Hamburg’s principal deputy. Sharfstein made headlines for pushing the FDA in recent years to warn against use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in young children.

“The two doctors won praise from public health experts, consumer groups and Democratic lawmakers who have criticized the FDA’s handling of risky medicines and tainted food, including an ongoing outbreak of salmonella in peanut products that has killed up to nine people.”

Source: Reuters, March 14, 2009