Hospitals across the United States are grappling with a severe shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids, a crisis exacerbated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton disrupting the medical supply chain. Mass General Brigham, the nation’s largest hospital-based research enterprise, announced the postponement of non-emergent procedures due to the uncertainty surrounding IV fluid availability.
A recent survey by Premier Inc. revealed that over 86 percent of healthcare providers are experiencing IV fluid shortages. The crisis began when Hurricane Helene damaged a Baxter IV plant in North Carolina, taking 60 percent of the country's IV solution supply offline. In response, hospitals are urging patients to use alternatives like Gatorade or Pedialyte for hydration and are only preparing IV fluids when absolutely necessary.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, warned that the supply constraints may persist and that Hurricane Milton could further destabilize the already fragile market. In an effort to mitigate the shortage, the Food and Drug Administration and Baxter are seeking alternative IV, dialysis, and nutrition products, while speeding up the review process for extending product shelf lives.
Smaller medical facilities, particularly those with 25 or fewer beds, are most affected, often facing complete shortages of IV orders. This shortage is particularly concerning for dialysis patients who depend on home IV treatments. The American Hospital Association has called on the Biden administration to take more aggressive measures, including invoking the Defense Production Act to prioritize IV solution manufacturing and facilitating the import of products from foreign suppliers.
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U.S. hospitals struggle as storms cut medical products supply chain
cgtn.com
