The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to boost the international and domestic supply of IV and peritoneal dialysis solutions following a shortage from the temporary closure of the Baxter International Inc. plant in North Cove, N.C.
In an Oct. 18 briefing and fact sheet, HHS officials provided several updates about the temporary exports the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is allowing from five Baxter facilities outside the United States. The first flight with imported solutions arrived Oct. 19. Distribution of products from these shipments will take place through normal channels.
FDA also reported positive developments on improving domestic capacity. More than 2,500 of Baxter’s North Cove plant employees are returning to work focused on site remediation and equipment assessment efforts, and more than 450 truckloads of products produced before the hurricane have been moved into the supply chain.
At the briefing, HHS also highlighted FDA’s new temporary policies for compounding certain parenteral drug products.
America’s Essential Hospitals previously sent a letter to the administration urging the federal government to use all available tools to increase IV fluid supply and ensure supplies are available to essential hospitals. The letter explains the unique effects of the shortage on essential hospitals and urges advance Medicare and Medicaid payments as a first step to mitigate cash flow issues at essential hospitals due to the shortage.
Leaders at association member hospitals experiencing severe supply shortages are encouraged to contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127. He may be able to connect hospital leaders directly with Baxter leadership.
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