P-G Editorial: Steroid scare: A deadly outbreak shows need for Pennsylvania regulation
In discussing the current deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis caused by contaminated steroid medication, the Post-Gazette noted:
". . . if a Massachusetts pharmacy had not voluntarily recalled a bad batch of steroid shots linked to a deadly outbreak of a rare form of fungal meningitis, Pennsylvania could not have stopped its distribution here. . . One would assume that the state Board of Pharmacy would have this covered or else the state Board of Health would have its own regulations.
But the Post-Gazette reported that the state Drug Device and Cosmetic Act requires that only out-of-state businesses with sales staff here must register with the health department if they distribute drugs or medical devices.
"As it happens, only Pennsylvania, Georgia and Massachusetts don't require out-of-state drug makers to be licensed to ship drugs within their borders. When so many other states have a tougher rule, that should be a hint to Pennsylvania to follow suit."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/editorials/steroid-scare-a-deadly-outbreak-shows-a-need-for-pa-regulation-656875/#ixzz28taecCig
This drug was manufactured by a "compounding pharmacy", i.e., a pharmacy which makes those drugs for which the profit margin/demand is so low that Big Pharma refuses to manufacture them. Nearly 10% of drugs administered in the United States come from compound pharmacies, according to a 2003 Government Accountability Office report. Drugs manufactured by compound pharmacies do not have to go through FDA-mandated premarket approval. Instead, individual state's agencies are responsible for the oversight and licensing of these pharmacies.
Here in Pennsylvania, following the recent forced "resignation" of Secretary of Health, Eli Avila, MD/JD, Corbett appointed as Acting Secretary of Health, one Michael Wolf who is neither a physician nor a public health professional. He came to the Dept. of Health after 6 years as a lobbyist for the biggest of Big Pharma, Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker. I'm not impressed that he has an on-line MBA from for-profit Phoenix University. Prior to that he put in six years doing political campaign work for the Republican party in Pennsylvania.
With biased, unqualified political appointees like him overseeing health care, we Pennsylvanians need the strongest possible protective regulation.
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with steriod stuff, and other stuff. i dont know much.
like, .... shit. lol
but, i read mostly old, in the spine and that is not the same as mine.
ah ha. i see i am in a state across the country. 
penn. dont let the asses stop you from your vote.
I remembered you had a problem with steroids making you sick. Glad it is not the same stuff.
(Hi back at you from PA where I am kicking everyone's ass to VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!)
