Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-25
BY WILLIAM GRIGG
Star Staff Writer

A special clClzenS report To-
day challenged the organiza-
ton, scientific competence and
decision-making methods of the
Food and Drug Administration,
particularly that section
charged with reviewing new
drugs for safety.
The report asked Welfare
Secretary Celebrezze to up
grade FDA's scientists and give
scientists more voice in the
total operation of the agency
FDA is till set up like a police
agency, the report said, al
though to-day it is the new
scientific discoveries and appli-
cations which pose the most
complex and difficult problems
in the protection of health"
RibicOff's Project
The Citizens Advisory Com
mittee which made the report
was set up by former Welfare
Secretary Abraham Ribicoff
Many of its members were
nominees of Food and DRUG
Commissioner George P. Lar
rick, who has said he welcomes
its recommendations.
To assure this. the report
asks that a National Food ano
Drug Advisory Council be es-
tablished to help in planning
future FDA programs and tc
evaluate the effectiveness Of
the agency's experimentation
of the recommendations made
today.
One major recommendation
asks that all scientific func'
tons of FDA be combined II
a Food and Drug Institute
headed by a well-paid, eminen'
scientific administrator. Ont
way to get good scientists fol
this institute, the report said
would be to offer joint appoint
ments with universities in thi
area-So that a mans specia
skills could be used at FDE
and simultaneously used II
educate and lead students.
Better Pay Proposed
To improve the FDA's scien'
tific competency - especially
that of the staff charged with
keeping drugs like thalidomidt
off the market-the report
suggests better pay for scien'
fists through at least 80 new
jobs at Supergrade level o.
under the special high-pay
authorization of Public Law 313
The committee said FDt
needs to adhere less than i
does to a policy of promotion
from within and that it should
encourage leaves of absenc'
for research and professional
development and should ex'
plore the potential of joint ap'
pointments of some specialist
with the National Institutes O
Health.
FDA also needs to maxi
greater use of consultants, tn
committee found, in scientific,
and medical specialties in which
it is not qualified. Private re
search should also be provides
grants in order to study basi
drug and other problems.
Internal Cooperation
The report also calls TO
greater cooperation between
FDA and the other medica
agencies headed by the Welfar
Secretary, such as the Publ
Health Service and its Nationa
Institutes of Health.
In recent Senate hearings
both Senator Humphrey, Demo
crat of Minnesota and Senate
Mundt, Republican of Soutl
Dakota called for such cooper
alton.
The major findings of tn
Citizens Advisory Committee
although released to the publ
only today, were revealed b
The Star on october 7. Thes
findings resulted in recommen
dalton to upgrade scientifi
personnel and revise the or
ganization and decision-makin
methods of the agency.
The Star also reported tn
study would show that Ed
gives reproducing respon
: sibilitieS" to individuals re
viewing new drug application
to determine if the drugs ar
safe for general prescription
sale.
Team Approach
The report today said ther
should be less reliance
placed on the decisions of on
individual, and the individus
relieved of the pressure t
} which he might be subjected.
This can be done, said the re
port, through "a team ap
proach."
This approach would ais
make FDA's decisions NOR
practicable and consistent, tn
committee found. At present
a drug application is assigne,
Ito an Individual physician an
to a scientist; standards of tn
individuals who review the ap
, plications vary, and it is readil
admitted, in the Bureau o