As hospitals across the country grapple with shortages caused by Hurricane Helen, federal health officials have approved the import of certain intravenous fluids from overseas.
The shortage occurred after flooding from Helen damaged Baxter International's intravenous fluid manufacturing facility in Marion, North Carolina. The plant supplied about 60 percent of the intravenous fluid used daily in U.S. hospitals.
A study by group purchasing organization Premier found that more than 86 percent of healthcare providers are experiencing IV fluid shortages due to Helen. The shortage was evenly spread across the country and across all types of providers.
Nearly 17% of healthcare providers have begun canceling elective procedures, according to the survey, and more providers could follow suit next month if the situation doesn't improve. Approximately 54 percent of providers surveyed reported having less than a 10-day supply of IV fluids in stock.
Late Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved temporary imports of IV fluids from Baxter facilities in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and China.
“FDA intends to work with Baxter to identify both potential products already in the system and alternative manufacturing sites, including the possibility of temporary importation. As alternatives are identified, FDA will We are expediting the evaluation of those options,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra wrote. Wednesday's letter to health care workers.
Becerra's letter noted that many IV fluids are already in short supply, and the hurricane “will likely result in further constraints on IV fluids.”
The ministry called on health care providers to take advantage of combination drugs that can be used to temporarily alleviate the shortage.
Baxter said it will increase allocation levels for its most in-demand intravenous fluids for direct customers to 60% of normal orders in anticipation of increased deliveries from international facilities.
Becerra said in the letter that approximately 400 agency personnel have been sent to the field in the Southeast to assist with search, rescue and recovery efforts in affected communities. He said the government has been working with Baxter since the day the storm hit North Carolina to ensure the safety of employees and their families and address supplies shortages.
“My department is committed to doing everything we can to mitigate the effects of Hurricane Helen and prevent further disruption from Hurricane Milton,” he wrote. “We are committed to not only doing the best we can during this supply chain disruption, but also to continuing to diversify and build resilience in this supply chain.”
Baxter said Wednesday that it aims to gradually restart production at its factories and return to full allocation of certain IV solutions product codes by the end of the year.
On Wednesday, the nation's second-largest intravenous fluid maker closed its Daytona Beach facility ahead of Milton. B. Brown said it plans to reopen Friday. The company announced ahead of the storm that its employees were working with the federal government to move supplies from its distribution center to a secure, temperature-controlled facility in northern Florida.
