Knowledge Center

Article / Sep 08, 2014

Are Regulators Providing The Right Quality Incentives?

Authors:
  • Guy Villax
Source:
Outsourced Pharma, 8 September 2014

If you want to get a horse to move, there are two schools of thought on how to get it done. One says stand behind the animal with a stick and hit it until it does what you want. This method is not the most humane, and would not do much to endear you to the horse. The other approach says hold a carrot in front of the horse, and get it to move of its own volition. The carrot would be a reward to the animal for doing the right thing.

Looking at this situation in a different context, we all want quality outcomes in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Good manufacturing practices will provide safe products to patients, prevent injury to workers, and minimize or eliminate plant shutdowns, which can ultimately lead to drug shortages. Guy Villax, CEO of CMO ËÄÉ«AV, believes the FDA and other regulatory agencies have many tools at their disposal that can be used to hit manufacturers for poor quality practices. In the future, he would like to see the oversight agencies make more use of carrots to get manufacturers producing to the standards that would benefit the entire industry.