SOURCE: Baxter The American Hospital Association (AHA) is calling on the Biden administration to take immediate action in response to a critical s
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is calling on the Biden administration to take immediate action in response to a critical shortage of intravenous (IV) and peritoneal dialysis solutions following the closure of a key manufacturing plant in North Carolina.
The facility, operated by Baxter, was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene, impacting the production of approximately 60% of the IV solutions used daily in the United States.
In a letter sent to President Joe Biden, AHA President and CEO Richard J. Pollack urged the federal government to take swift measures to address the shortage, which is already affecting patient care across the country.
Pollack emphasized that the damage to Baxter’s plant in Marion, N.C., is exacerbating the challenges hospitals are facing in the aftermath of the hurricane, particularly as suppliers have imposed strict ordering allocations and are not accepting new customers.
“As a result, our members are already reporting substantial shortages of these lifesaving and life-supporting products,” Pollack said. “Patients across America are already feeling this impact, which will only deepen in the coming days and weeks unless much more is done to alleviate the situation and minimize the impact on patient care.”
Key Actions Requested by AHA
The AHA outlined several urgent steps for the administration to consider:
- FDA Declaration of IV Solution Shortage: The AHA is urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to declare a shortage of sterile IV solutions, which would grant healthcare providers certain flexibilities to address the crisis.
- Production Flexibilities: The AHA recommends allowing hospitals and health systems to prepare sterile IV solutions in their own pharmacies and waiving certain regulations to allow for the distribution of these products across multiple facilities.
- International Sourcing: The AHA calls for identifying international manufacturers capable of producing sterile IV solutions and extending the shelf-life of solutions nearing expiration.
- Defense Production Act: The AHA is asking the administration to invoke the Defense Production Act to prioritize the production and supply of IV solutions and their containers.
- Transportation Assistance: The AHA also urges the Department of Defense to assist with transporting emergency supplies from international sources and to remove barriers to importing IV solutions from abroad.
- Prevent Price Gouging: The AHA requests that the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice be on alert for price gouging related to IV solutions and other essential medical supplies.
A Call for Federal Support
Pollack warned that long-term disruptions to IV solution production could severely impact hospitals and healthcare systems across the country. “Immediate action is necessary to protect patient care and ensure healthcare providers have the resources they need,” he stated.
The AHA also offered to work closely with the administration to address the crisis in real time and invited White House officials and agency experts to collaborate with healthcare leaders in a forum to discuss ongoing developments.
The letter, which was also addressed to several key government officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, comes as hospitals continue to struggle with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread damage in the southeastern United States.
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