The IV fluid plant that was damaged in NC is resuming partial production

[thewayne]

It's reported that 86% of health care facilities are affected by this plant that was shut down by damage from Hurricane Helene. Its largest production line is back in service and they're hoping to resume full production volume by the end of the year. So try not to require hospitalization or anything requiring IV fluids until well into 2025. The resumed production line "...could produce, at peak, 25 percent of the plant's total production and about 50 percent of the plant's production of one-liter IV solutions, the product most commonly used by hospitals and clinics."

Among the damage to the site was an access building and the main bridge to the site. From the article: "...a temporary bridge—built with support from North Carolina's Department of Transportation and the federal Administration of Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)—has allowed the transport of more than 885 truckloads of existing inventory out of the plant since Helene. A second temporary bridge, expected to be completed in early November, will enable further access of traffic and equipment to the site."

Oh, hey! Look! Our do-nothing government doing something useful! Don't anyone show this information to that weird old Florida felon!

Other coping measures aside from oral hydration compounds have been allowing temporary importation and a limited extension of expiration dates on existing stocks.

As I previously posted almost a full month ago, this plant produces 60% of the IV solutions used in the USA, which hits particularly hard people needing dialysis and chemotherapies. You can bet both company and federal inspectors will be all over completed product from this plant until they're very confident that it's safe stuff.

https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/11/as-hospitals-struggle-with-iv-fluid-shortage-nc-plant-restarts-production/

Comments

[disneydream06]

We get a message every time we log onto the computers at work that says we are conservation mode for IV fluids.
If somebody was smart, they would go into the IV fluid business now because this has proven there is definitely a need for it. :o
More proof that monopolies are not good. :o
Hugs, Jon

[thewayne]

If you were to go into the IV business, you'd probably find distributors locked into contracts with Baxter.  Or so would be my expectation.  Plus corporate fear of dealing with new people.

[disneydream06]

Yeah, that's probably very true about the contracts. :o
I don't remember the last time I saw an IV bag that wasn't a Baxter IV at work.

[silveradept]

Our government is often ready to do something useful if that useful thing will end up helping a corporation get more profits. That this particular one has the side effect of keeping hospitals stocked with important things is an appreciated bonus, I think.

The thing that would be extra useful would be to require the monopolist to diversify their plants, or to have competitors able to take up enough market share that one hurricane doesn't create a crisis. Those kinds of things, however, the government will be very reluctant to do, because they'll cut into profits and might make something useful for the people instead.

[thewayne]

Capitalism rules this country, along with privatized profits and socialized losses.