Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi on Thursday called for enhancing
supervision of the heads of drug administrations.
Wu made the remarks at the national work meeting of the State
Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), urging officials at drug
administrations to "strengthen self-discipline and resist
temptation".
The former head of SFDA, Zheng Xiaoyu, has been put under
investigation for taking bribes. Last year, one of Zheng's former
directors was given a 15-year-sentence for bribery.
Wu urged stepping up implementation of the system that shifts
cadres at sensitive posts with a lot of power to other places from
time to time.
Wu also said at the meeting that China would strengthen the
supervision of drug research and development, production,
circulation and clinical use. According to SFDA, the administration
will install supervisors in pharmaceutical plants involved in
producing plasma products and vaccines from this year.
Chinese consumers' confidence in the country's drugs industry
hit a record low last year after several substandard drugs caused
several fatalities and a series of bribery scandals.
(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2007)