Medicine and medical apparatus are supposed to cure illness and return health to people. Sadly, they could become extremely dangerous even if one link in the production or distribution process goes wrong.
The country has witnessed enough tragedies including the loss of human lives and economic property caused by shoddy or fake drugs in the past two years.
The mishaps reached its height at the end of last year when the top official with the food and drug safety watchdog was caught making dirty deals with bad drug producers.
Although the high-ranking official was given a death sentence and executed in July, the country still needs to fight an uphill battle against various kinds of disorders in the manufacture and trade in drugs.
The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has been pushed to the forefront of the campaign. In the past months, the public has been watching tentatively as the administration works hard to rebuild its tarnished reputation.
In a press conference held yesterday, the administration announced it will send inspection teams to the provinces to supervise drug registration, production, distribution and utilization.
Sending inspection teams could be a direct and quick way to check whether the local governments are making efforts to meet the requirements of the central government.
According to SFDA, the inspection teams will include representatives from departments related to drug safety. The joint task force will indeed be more powerful to spot problems and deter offenders.
The SFDA also announced yesterday that it had initially set up a national network to monitor and control special medicines with narcotics and psychotropic substances. Such a network is highly necessary to ensure those special medicines do not fall into the wrong hands.
The determination of the central government to strengthen drug safety is therefore crystal clear.
To the world's most populous country, drug safety concerns people's welfare as well as social stability. A responsible government should always be keen on improving its administration on drug quality and safety.
With the nation becoming more experienced in plugging loopholes, it is hoped the public will become more at ease with the quality and effect of Chinese medicines.
Source: China Daily
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