When the Gatekeeper Changes: My Take on FDA’s New Acting Boss
A few years ago, I found myself stuck in a pharmacy aisle for almost 40 minutes, trying to figure out if the cough syrup I was about to buy was even approved by the Food and Drugs Authority. I remember Googling batch numbers, squinting at hologram stickers, and honestly—just hoping the FDA knew what they were doing. I mean, when you’re chugging medicine at 2 AM, you kinda want to trust that someone, somewhere, has your back.
So, when I heard that the Food and Drugs Authority has a new Acting CEO, my first thought was—that’s a big chair to fill. The FDA isn’t just any run-of-the-mill regulator. They’re the invisible gatekeepers between what goes into our bodies and what shouldn’t. From the painkillers in our cabinets to the sachet water we sip in traffic, they’ve got eyes on everything. Or, well, they should.
The new Acting CEO, Dr. Olivia Boateng (she’s been around the block at the FDA for a while), steps into this role at a time when, in my opinion, people’s trust in regulatory bodies is kinda wobbly. I mean, fake drugs still find their way onto the market. Expired products pop up in shops like unwanted party guests. And don’t get me started on those “miracle” herbal concoctions that promise to make you lose 20kg in two days—like, come on.
I’ve always felt that leadership at institutions like the FDA is less about fancy titles and more about grit. It’s like being a bouncer at a club that everyone wants to sneak into—big pharma, shady producers, street hawkers with no permits. You have to stand your ground, say “Nope, you’re not on the list,” and mean it. Not exactly glamorous, huh? But crucial.
Now, I don’t know Dr. Boateng personally (obviously), but from what I’ve read, she’s got chops in tobacco control and public health. That’s something. But will she be bold enough to crack down on the local “miracle cure” industry? Or tackle the political bigwigs who sometimes meddle when their cousin’s ‘wonder drink’ gets seized? I don’t know. I hope so.
Maybe it’s naive of me, but I’d like to see the FDA become more visible. More relatable. Like, wouldn’t it be cool if they did random TikToks showing people how to check their medicine’s authenticity? Or short skits busting myths about “herbal” treatments? Sometimes the big problem is just that people don’t know what to look for—and honestly, who’s got time to read tiny leaflets?
All this talk makes me think about that night in the pharmacy aisle. If I’d felt more certain that the folks at the top were dead serious about weeding out fakes, maybe I wouldn’t have been so anxious. Maybe you wouldn’t be either.
So here’s to Dr. Boateng. I hope she’s tough, bold, and just a bit stubborn (the good kind). Because we kinda need that in a gatekeeper.
But what about us? Will we hold her and the FDA accountable, or just keep scrolling until the next scandal breaks? Something to chew on the next time you pop a pill or sip that “magic tea.” Are we doing enough to protect ourselves—or are we just hoping someone else will?