Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called Food and Drug Administration A “corruption system” that leads “The war against public health.” He undertook to eliminate the “whole departments” at the agency responsible for guaranteeing security Among the foods that Americans eat and the drugs we have, warning the more than 18,000 people working there to “pack your bags”.
President elected Donald Trump has Nominé Kennedy To direct the United States Ministry of Health and Social Services. If it is confirmed by the SenateKennedy will have the opportunity to “unleash” health, food and drugs, like Trump put During the campaign.
Putting the FDA may not be as simple – or as desirable – that it seems from the outside, says it Dr Robert Califf. He is able to know: his second passage as a commissioner of the agency ends on Monday.
The Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf testifies during an audience in the Senate on Capitol Hill.
(Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press)
Califf's career lasted the academic world, major health systems, biotechnological industry, Silicon Valley and the highest levels of the federal government. His colleagues from the FDA “work as hard and are at least as intelligent” as the people he worked elsewhere, he said. Public criticism Delivered with the territoryBut things seem different when you are inside to try to Ensure access to infant preparations,, make tobacco products less addictive And help consumers understand What's in Their grocery stores.
Califf spoke to a group of journalists last week on his last day on the FDA White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. His comments were modified for duration and clarity.
What do you want people to understand your work?
It is a work that has a lot of bosses and a lot of constraints. When you are in the office of the FDA commissioner, you report to the executive branch. But Congress also thinks that it is your boss. It is not unknown for the FDA to want to do something and receive an important appropriate message who, “if you do this, we will reduce your budget elsewhere.”
It is really interesting for me that people think that the FDA can just declare that and that. He generally cannot. It must generally go through a systematic approach. At the minute when you exceed the legal limits of what the rules say, you will find yourself in court. It will be relieved fairly quickly.
How do you expect the new administration to change the FDA?
I don't know. Right away We have rhetoricand rhetoric is contradictory. We just have to wait and see.
Some of the people who have been appointed to positions have been very critical, which implies that there is harmful patterns people working in public health agencies. This seems very different when you have to make the decision and be responsible for it rather than criticizing the decision.
I have a copy of (President Theodore) Roosevelt “Man in the arena” speech Above my home office to remind me every day that you get all these criticisms of people who do not really do work. It is better to be in the arena to try to do your best.
Kennedy says he wants to get rid of certain departments within the FDA. Are there areas that worry you most?
I worry about each part of the FDA. I don't think you will find people in the FDA to do work that does not care.
If you look at the food side of the FDA and the inspection, it is massively underfalling. If you cut this – especially if you also say that we have to radically change the food system – It would be a problem.
Kennedy wants to see major changes in food and health industries. Is it realistic?
Slogans are easy, and they seem really hard, but it's a little different when you enter the direction. The lobbies that have created this food system a lot are powerful. Maybe they can be overcome. It is possible that things can be done for public health that could not be done before.
The other part of this is that if you really want to change the food system, you better have a 10 or 20 year plan. If you have declared today, “no ultra-transformed foods In INSTANT or other programs assisted by the federal government, ”the agricultural industry crashes.
Trump said he would investigate the affirmations of vaccines and autism. How should the FDA react?
Anyone study will note that the risks and advantages are already delimited. There is dozens of studies This show No relationship between Vaccination and autism. It would not be there that I would spend my time, but if he wanted to do it, I think he will see that things are already well -documented.
That does not mean that post-marketing surveillance couldn't be better. It is not a great way to have things that a question must answer a question for public health, you must obtain permission from each state and territory.
But I don't think people find surprises. Everything is there. For there to be a kind of conspiracy, it would take a lot of people outside the government to decide to work together. I lived in America all my life. It is difficult to bring someone to work together on things.
You have described the disinformation of the main cause of death. Is it better or worse?
We lose the Battle on disinformation. I'm not talking about the FDA specifically. I'm talking about all of us.
For me, it is very clear that Many people are dead WHO would not be dead If they had just obtained a free cocvid vaccineand had they not been misled or made you feel doubtful by People peddling incorrect information.
Often people who are experts in one field have opinions on another field, then when someone does not agree, they call it disinformation. It is much easier to take out a slogan or write something than to worry about whether you have understood and take the time and efforts to go to sources and get the right information.
We are losing the battle at the moment because of this intersection of social media and the cultural changes that have occurred. He threatens a large part of the base of public health. We have to create Personal networks which are devoted to the truth.
What advice would you give for the new health leadership?
The change does not come so easily to the government. If we move at least five people, he must obtain an examination of the congress. It makes it really difficult.
When possible, use evidence for decision -making. I heard a lot of tweets and short things on social networks saying: “We are going to do that, we will do it.” Let's see the evidence of what an effective treatment is, then if it is good, go ahead.
These are my two main tips.
