FDA nominee says agency confidence boost needed

By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's nominee to run the Food and Drug Administration pledged on Thursday to boost public confidence in the agency with a focus on improving the safety of medical products and foods.

"The American people place a huge amount of trust in the FDA. It is critical that we take steps to boost their confidence, particularly when it comes to the safety of drugs and foods," Dr. Margaret Hamburg told the Senate health committee.

If confirmed by the Senate, Hamburg will take over an agency battered in recent years by a string of often deadly food poisoning and drug safety issues.

Improvements in those areas will be a priority, she said.

For foods, Hamburg said: "Now is the time to shift to a food safety system that puts prevention first."

Close monitoring of medical products after approval would be key to identifying safety problems early and responding quickly, she said.

Hamburg also said fostering innovation was a priority and that she would "strive to lead an agency that appropriately balances innovation with regulation."

Democrats and Republicans alike praised Hamburg, a Harvard-trained doctor and former New York City health commissioner, as being well-qualified with expertise in public health and bioterrorism preparedness.