Lack of independence of Australian TGA

The collective known as Australians against RU486 have questioned the independence of the Therapeutic Goods Administration in their new found role regarding the administration of approvals for the use of RU486.

On the disgraceful day in which the politicians lost their minds and showed their true colours by overturning good social policy, the AARU486 issued a press release questioning the very independence of the TGA. Few Australians recognize that the Therapeutic Goods Administration receives no funding from the Government, and rely entirely upon industry sources for their funding. How can the TGA be proved to be independent with regard to its approval decisions if the pharmaceutical industry is providing the funding?

The Australian Parliament voted to abrogate its responsibility with regard to social responsibility, and there are other implications to consider:

- by allowing the TGA, the authority (without Ministerial oversight) to approve without restriction the use of RU486 and other abortifacients the politicians have moved to prevent the general public the right to participate in such approvals. There will be no opportunity for doctors, scientists and members of the public to make submissions. All proceedings will be conducted behind closed doors and this is not good news.

- the TGA is not concerned about the right or otherwise of teenagers to access a drug such as RU486. As already discussed elsewhere, RU486 should not be offered to girls under the age of 18 because of the greater chance of dying as a result of a chemically induced abortion.

- there is no room for assessing the social impact that will result from the approval of this drug.