FDA to hold meeting on hiring process assessment findings

FDA will hold a public meeting on Nov. 30 to provide high-level findings from an independent diagnostic assessment of its hiring process. The agency will outline near-term steps to improve the hiring process and provide an update on its progress toward PDUFA VI and BsUFA II human resource commitments, which include completing the initial baseline assessment by Dec. 31.

FDA said it has struggled with managing the hiring process and "bringing the right skills to the agency" over the past five years. PDUFA VI seeks to fix the agency’s human resources problems by requiring FDA to adopt common private sector practices, such as contracting headhunters, and by setting hiring goals. Speeding drug approvals would require adequate staff (see BioCentury, May 12)...