The closure of the North Carolina plant operated by Baxter International, the largest manufacturer of certain intravenous (IV) solutions in the United States, due to the impact of Hurricane Helene has disrupted the critical supply of IV fluids to hospitals. The North Cove plant, which produces 60 percent of America’s IV fluid supply, was significantly affected by the storm, resulting in water permeating the facility. Baxter has not provided a timeline for when operations will resume at the plant.
The North Cove facility is Baxter’s largest manufacturing site, primarily producing intravenous and peritoneal dialysis solutions. The company manufactures eight IV solutions used by millions of patients, healthcare providers, and caregivers. Due to the operational disruption, Baxter has implemented allocations to manage inventory and minimize disruptions to patient care. The restrictions apply to saline, dextrose, and peritoneal dialysis solution products.
Baxter is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to leverage its global manufacturing network to mitigate supply issues. Hospitals in Florida are already facing supply disruptions due to the closure of the North Cove facility. The California Hospital Association has advised hospitals in the state to monitor their IV solution inventory and report any shortages to the appropriate authorities.
Remediation efforts are underway at the North Cove site, with approximately 500 workers involved in the process. The government plans to install a permanent bridge to the site in the coming weeks. The FDA is collaborating with Baxter and other agencies to assess the availability of products for distribution and provide assistance to manage the supply situation.
Baxter’s president and CEO, Jose E. Almeida, has pledged to allocate all necessary resources to resume production at the North Cove facility. This is not the first time Baxter has faced supply disruptions due to natural disasters, as Hurricane Maria impacted its operations in Puerto Rico in 2017. It took several months for the plant to return to full manufacturing capacity after the storm. Can you please rephrase that?
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