Study: Government at Risk of Pharma Industry Bias Due to Revolving Employment Door
A New Study Reveals Government Vulnerability to Industry Bias
A groundbreaking study published in Health Affairs has shed light on the concerning overlap between government and pharmaceutical jobs, raising questions about potential industry bias within government agencies.
The study, conducted by the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics and Harvard University, revealed that over half of appointees to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have left their government positions to work in the pharmaceutical industry, which typically offers higher salaries.
The USC Schaeffer Center, commenting on the study, expressed concern about the potential pro-industry bias that could arise from this revolving door phenomenon, stating, “Although there are understandable reasons for people to move between the public and private sectors, such a revolving door could make government agencies more vulnerable to pro-industry bias.”
Key Findings of the Study
- Nearly a third of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) appointees transitioned directly from government work to the pharmaceutical industry.
- Out of the 766 HHS appointees evaluated, 15 percent had previously worked in the private industry before their appointment, and 32 percent went on to work in the industry after their tenure.
- The study found no significant difference between party appointees when it came to transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry.
The revolving door between government and the pharmaceutical industry raises concerns due to the pivotal role federal agencies play in approving new drugs and treatments. Genevieve Kanter, one of the study’s authors from USC, emphasized the significance of regulatory agencies, stating, “Laws passed by Congress get a lot of attention, but a lot of the real action actually happens at the regulatory level. Regulatory agencies can decide the fortunes of many companies.”
Kanter also highlighted the limited measures in place to prevent overlap and bias, suggesting that current laws may not adequately protect the government. She proposed expanding cooling-off laws to address the subtle effects of the revolving door phenomenon.
In conclusion, the study raises important questions about the potential biases that may arise from the personnel flow between government and the pharmaceutical industry, urging further examination and potential reforms to safeguard against industry influence.
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