Citing confusion and creating “irrational fears” about prescription drugs among the public, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) blasted the FDA’s recent launch of its Drug Watch Web site.
Of course, there is nothing irrational about them at all: They are valid and logical. What is irrational, however, is PhRMA’s belief they will continue to fool the American public and rape them economically for worthless solutions.
In a letter to the FDA, PhRMA argued the information the federal agency wants to include on its Drug Watch site is “too vague and preliminary to be of any value in making informed treatment and prescribing decisions.” Moreover, the drug lobby questioned the existence of the Web site itself, citing that it may exceed the authority of the FDA or violate federal laws that regulate what kind of information the government can release.
PhRMA kingpin Billy Tauzin, no stranger to federal wrangling as a former Louisiana Congressman, expressed “deep” concern patients would stop taking drugs they need. In fact, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Tauzin was taking a swipe at my Web site when he said, “I’d rather have them [the FDA] doing it than some blogger…”
Fact is, the more eyes watching the drug companies, the better off we all are, don’t you think?