China FDA Suffering from Lack of Qualified Officials

A recent report from Reuters reveals that experienced staff of the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA)—China’s chief regulatory body—are increasingly leaving their positions in pursuit of higher salaries at private firms. The lack of experienced professionals may conflict with the CFDA’s ongoing overhaul of drug and medical device regulations. According to the head of the CFDA, China’s drug evaluation department has only 130 staff members—a number that pales in comparison to the 5,000 employees at the U.S. FDA. It remains to be seen if China will be able to continue its regulatory overhaul without the necessary staff on hand to implement changes and ensure that new drugs and devices meet new requirements.