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Regulatory jobs go to industry bosses

Fears have been raised for the independence of national pharmaceutical regulation in Britain and Australia in the wake of the appointment of key industry figures to top posts.

In December 2000, the UK Medicines Control Agency announced that Ian Hudson, until recently director and vice-president of worldwide clinical safety for SmithKline Beecham, would become its director of drugs licensing.

Then in February 2001 the Australian government sparked mass resignations from its Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee when it appointed Pat Clear, former head of the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association, to the committee, which has a role comparable to that of the UK’s National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

In both countries regulators argue that such senior positions demand people with long experience of the drugs industry, which almost inevitably means industry executives. But critics point out that, even with clear guidelines on conflicts of interest, the result is a culture which tends to support corporate interests over public health.