MEDWATCH Conference on Drug and Device-induced Disease: Developing a Blueprint
for the Future; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the
Commissioner's MEDWATCH Conference on Drug and Device-Induced Disease:
Developing a Blueprint for the Future. The conference is co-sponsored by FDA
and the American Medical Association (AMA) in cooperation with the following
organizations: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American
Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Association of Dental Schools,
American Dental Association, American Hospital Association, American Nursing
Association, American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Association of American Medical
Colleges, and the Council on Education in Clinical Pharmacology and
Therapeutics.

DATES: The conference will be held on January 21, 1994, from 8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m., and January 22, 1994, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The conference will be held at the Stouffer Mayflower Hotel, 1127
Connecticut Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20036. Registration is required.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Pat Couig, Office of Health Affairs
(HFYÄ40), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD
20857, 301Ä443Ä5470. For registration call the American Medical Association at
1Ä800Ä621Ä8335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Drug and device-induced diseases are serious health
problems. It is estimated that 2 to 10 percent of all hospitalizations are a
result of serious adverse events. The purpose of this conference is to develop
recommendations on ways to heighten health professionals' awareness of the
extent and spectrum of drug and device-induced disease and to break down
barriers to the discovery and reporting of important adverse events to FDA and
manufacturers by: (1) Strengthening undergraduate curricula, (2) enhancing
postgraduate training, and (3) building user-friendly reporting mechanisms for
health professionals.

David A. Kessler, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and James S. Todd, Executive
Vice President of the AMA, will be the keynote speakers.

The conference should be of interest to the following groups: Practicing
health professionals, health professional organizations, health professions
educators (undergraduate and graduate), health professionals of State health
departments, regulatory and safety surveillance professionals, and hospital
personnel (e.g, risk managers/quality assurance personnel and members of
Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees).

This is a participatory conference. Recommendations from the breakout sessions
will be presented on the second day of the conference and their implementation
discussed at the final panel discussion.

Dated: December 23, 1993.

David A. Kessler,

Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

[FR Doc. 94Ä39 Filed 1Ä3Ä94; 8:45 am]

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