The American Hospital Association (AHA) has urgently appealed to the Biden administration for immediate action to address a critical shortage of sterile intravenous (IV) solutions in hospitals across the United States.
The AHA's president and CEO, Richard Pollack, emphasized the growing impact on patient care and called for swift intervention to prevent the situation from worsening.
The AHA's recommendations include:
The AHA also suggested declaring a national emergency to facilitate waivers of Medicare and Medicaid regulations.
The supply chain disruptions caused by the closure of Baxter International's North Cove facility have further exacerbated the situation.
Hospitals are implementing action plans to conserve IV fluids, including rescheduling or canceling elective procedures.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is coordinating a government-wide response, and the FDA is collaborating with Baxter to identify alternative manufacturing sites and expedite assessments for temporary imports.
The crisis highlights vulnerabilities in the healthcare supply chain, and the AHA's call for federal action underscores the need for a coordinated response.
Baxter International is working to increase allocations for IV solutions and nutrition products, particularly for children's hospitals.
The company aims to restore customers to 100% allocation levels as soon as possible.
The collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, and manufacturers is crucial in addressing the supply chain disruptions and ensuring the availability of essential medical products.