Korea's food and drug commissioner announces internal reforms for 2009
This article was originally published in Clinica
Korea's Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) commissioner Yun Yeo-pyo has outlined some key reforms to be made within the organisation during 2009.
There will be major changes to how staff are recruited and promoted. The practice of "customary, in-house promotions" will cease. Only relevantly-qualified individuals – to be determined by examination – and those effective to lead changes within the KFDA will be recruited to leadership positions.
To ensure that the best candidates are obtained for director level positions, job vacancy announcements and applications will be made open to the public, and examinations will be conducted.
Institution restructuring
Restructuring will be made in institutions important to the KFDA's functions to make them more effective. These include the National Institute of Toxicological Research (NITR), the Risk Prevention Policy Bureau, the Central Investigation Agency and the KFDA's main office.
The NITR, which deals with scientific safety management issues, will have its role defined and its resources reinforced. Its relationship with the KFDA will be strengthened and it will act as the KFDA's think-tank on scientific safety management.
The KFDA's main office restructuring will aim to make it more effective in carrying out core duties, such as system reforms, policy development, and safety and efficacy evaluations. Duties not central to these core activities will be transferred to local governments.