Beck Suggests Federal Support Of Drug Research Means Government Will Be “In Charge Of The Life-Saving Drugs”
Beck: “[I]s Anybody Else Concerned With The Government Being In Charge Of Our Life-Saving Drugs?” On the January 24 edition of his Fox News program, Beck mocked the announcement of a $1 billion government drug development center to help create new medicines, asking his listeners, “[D]o you believe the federal government is the answer to speeding up production of new medicine? Me neither.” He further stated, “Maybe it’s just me, but is anybody else concerned with the government being in charge of our life-saving drugs?” From the broadcast:
BECK: Next headline. The Obama administration has become so concerned about the slowing pace of new drugs coming out of the pharmaceutical industry that officials have decided to start a billion-dollar government drug development center to help create medicines. Well, that is fantastic. No, seriously — they’re concerned about the time it takes to get new drugs to the market. Reason: do you believe the federal government is the answer to speeding up production of new medicine? Yeah, me neither. So why is this happening?
Well, I mean, let’s start with this. Why would the drug manufacturers have any problems, you know, making new drugs and getting them to the market. You know, they have to wait for the FDA approval and go through — and this is all fine print. You know, go through the new regulations and the rules of, you know, all this stuff from the FDA. It’s pretty cumbersome, right? I mean, can you imagine? By the way, this isn’t the FDA. These are just the 165 new [Food and Drug Administration] regulations that Cass Sunstein has put in with Obama since 2009. Now it takes an average of 12 years and over $350 million, U.S. dollars, to get a new drug from the lab — laboratory to the pharmacy shelf.
So, they’re serious. What they’re going to do now is add incompetence. Maybe it’s just me, but is anybody else concerned with the government being in charge of our life-saving drugs? Remember, when they want to have a solution to something, they get serious. Remember when there were long lines at the post office? I am not making this up. Do you know what their solution was? Do you know, Erin? She knows. She knows. Take the clocks out of the lobby so nobody could see the clock. That was it. Like you don’t have watches or a cell phone? While we’re at the post office, by the way, the U.S. Postal Service is going to start the process of closing additional 2,000 branches operating in a deficit now, but they have to lobby Congress to allow it to change the law so it can close the most unprofitable post offices. The law currently allows the Postal Service to close post offices but only for maintenance problems, lease expirations, or other reasons that don’t include profitability.
Record Number of Pharmacy Technicians Seek Certification Through PTCB
Certification as a pathway to new job opportunities and expanded responsibility.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Record numbers of pharmacy technicians continue to seek certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), a pioneer in the credentialing industry. Over 400,000 pharmacy technicians nationwide have earned the PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential since 1995 and more than 55,000 candidates sat for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) in 2010 alone.
As medication regimens become more complex and cost-conscious insurers rely on pharmacists to provide direct-patient care and medication therapy management, PTCB certified pharmacy technicians will continue to be relied upon to keep pharmacy operations running smoothly.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010–11 Edition, projects that pharmacy technician employment is expected to increase more than 31 percent by 2018. The BLS also suggests that pharmacy technicians with formal education or training, previous work experience, and national certification will be specifically sought after to meet these demands.
“Certification through PTCB represents an excellent pathway to employment for pharmacy technicians practicing in the United States,” said Melissa Murer Corrigan, RPh, Executive Director and CEO of PTCB, “It also enables pharmacy technicians to meet the growing demands of a changing pharmacy landscape.”
An increasing number of states have decided to allow only pharmacy technicians certified through PTCB to be employed by pharmacies. Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and are accountable to the supervising pharmacist who is legally responsible through state licensure for the care and safety of patients served by the pharmacy.
“America’s evolving health care system calls for qualified support personnel that will enable pharmacists to provide patient-centered care with authority and autonomy,” said Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, FAPhA, Chair, PTCB Board of Governors. “PTCB’s certification program not only assesses technicians’ knowledge up front, but also requires ongoing commitment to the profession by requiring technicians to maintain certification through continuing education.”
PTCB’s certification program offers flexible testing at more than 200 Pearson Professional Centers nationwide; efficient score reporting of pass/fail results available to candidates immediately after completing the PTCE; and certification verification for employers who require current certification for technician employment. Pharmacy technicians may apply to take the PTCE online at www.ptcb.org, and may follow PTCB on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to connect with others dedicated to PTCB certification and patient safety.