Baxter International has announced that its production facility in North Cove, NC will temporarily close due to damages from Hurricane Helene, potentially leading to a 40% shortage in IV fluid supply. Hospitals have been alerted to the decrease in supply, raising concerns about patient care.
Dr. Paul Biddinger from Mass General Brigham Hospital highlighted the seriousness of the situation, stating that the hospital uses over 100,000 liters of IV fluid from Baxter monthly. The anticipated drop in supply is alarming for hospitals heavily reliant on these fluids.
Baxter is working diligently with local, state, and federal officials to assess the hurricane damage and plans to reopen the plant as soon as possible. The urgency of restoring production reflects the critical need for IV fluids in medical emergencies.
The FDA's drug shortage office is actively coordinating with Baxter and FEMA to support the cleanup effort and avoid further supply disruptions. Additionally, other IV fluid manufacturers are ramping up production to mitigate the expected shortages.
#iv-fluids-shortage #baxter-international #hurricane-helene #hospital-supply-chain #medical-technology
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