Two out of three US residents say they would support the creation of an independent panel to oversee... FDA practices and procedures concerning new prescription drugs, new medical devices and food safety, and 81% of U.S. residents want to increase or at least maintain FDA's regulatory role, according to a survey from the Center for Medical Consumers, Consumers Union, the National Organization for Rare Disorders and the National Research Center for Women and Families, CQ HealthBeat reports. The survey also indicates that seven in 10 Americans want FDA to improve how it gathers and reports information on drugs and medical instruments found to cause harm after approval. In addition, the survey shows that U.S. adults believe industries regulated by FDA have "too much influence over the agency's decisions." Fifty-two percent of U.S. residents also say they would be less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who favored reducing funds for FDA's safety inspection programs, according to the survey, CQ HealthBeat reports. Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, who helped conduct the survey, said, "We have seen Americans' confidence in the FDA decline in recent months," adding, "As far as these questions go, [52%] is a very high number" (CQ HealthBeat, 3/2).

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