Germany Storm "Helene" triggers medical shortages
The damage caused by Hurricane Helene in the USA could also have an impact on medical care for people in Germany.
15.10.2024, 12:52
SDA
During the storm, an important plant of the pharmaceutical manufacturer Baxter was so badly damaged by flooding that the production of intravenous (IV) solutions had to be stopped there. "If the Americans now import more, this can draw volumes away from Europe," said David Francas, Professor of Data and Supply Chain Analysis at the German University of Worms.
IV solutions are used during operations and in dialysis, among other things. Baxter is a key supplier of such solutions in the USA: according to the US Hospital Association, the company produced around 60 percent of the products used in the country at the affected site.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), three IV solutions used in the USA are now only available on a limited basis. The agency has therefore temporarily allowed the import of these products from foreign Baxter sites in Canada, China, Ireland and the UK.
Operations in the USA affected
According to US media reports, major hospitals in the USA are already having to postpone medical procedures due to the shortages. Existing stocks are being rationed and used for urgent operations.
Baxter hopes to be able to gradually resume production of IV solutions at the North Cove site in North Carolina by the end of the year. It is not yet clear when full production capacity will be reached again, the company explained. "Helene" left a trail of devastation in several states at the end of September with flooding and strong winds.
