Obama Is At It Again! Circumventing Congress With Executive Orders! How Is a Congressman Supposed To Make A Living Without Bribes From Pork And Beef And Big Pharma Cash?!?! Antibiotic-resistant germs are an increasing threat, causing at least 23,000 deaths and two million illnesses in the United States each year, and requiring treatment costing $20 billion in direct medical expenses. The Obama administration announced some measures this month to reduce the overuse of antibiotics in humans and much, though perhaps not all, of the overuse in animal husbandry that together are fueling the emergence of drug-resistant germs. An executive order signed by President Obama on Sept. 18 directed federal agencies to carry out a new national strategy to curb misuse of antibiotics. It also created an interagency task force led by three cabinet secretaries that will submit a five-year action plan by Feb. 15, with timetables and metrics to measure impact. There are obviously many details still to be filled in. On the farming front, the Food and Drug Administration had already started a voluntary plan among drug producers that could end almost all use of antibiotics by farmers and ranchers to enhance the growth of food animals. All 26 major manufacturers of antibiotics for livestock have agreed to change their labels to eliminate the promotion of animal growth as a valid use. Once they do so, it will be illegal to use antibiotics for that purpose. Antibiotics can still be used to treat sick animals, or prevent disease in animals, if administered under orders from a veterinarian. The F.D.A. will need to make sure that veterinarians do not dole out prescriptions for healthy animals to curry favor with the ranchers and farmers who pay them. In humans, antibiotics are often overused or prescribed for conditions they can’t cure, like the common cold and other viral diseases. That must stop so that critically important antibiotics remain available to treat life-threatening illnesses. The administration hopes to increase the development of new antibiotics with new incentives, yet to be determined, that might include federal financial support to manufacturers or longer market exclusivity. And it seeks to preserve existing antibiotics by requiring hospitals to track and control indiscriminate use. With up to half of all antibiotics prescribed for Americans not needed or improperly prescribed (as when doctors choose a broad spectrum antibiotic instead of a more targeted drug), there is clearly lots of room for improvement. NY Times Editorial Content.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:38:01 +0000