Trying Times at the FDA — The Challenge of Ensuring the Safety of Imported Pharmaceuticals

In recent years, the FDA has faced serious challenges to its ability to ensure the safety of the country's medical devices and drugs. What can be done? Stuart Schweitzer writes that one approach is to attempt to boost the FDA's efficiency. Stuart Schweitzer discusses challenges and recent crises at the FDA and the scope of the agency's responsibilities. Dr. Schweitzer is a professor of health services at the UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles.