A large Baxter International manufacturing plant in North Carolina, crucial for supplying intravenous fluids and dialysis solutions, has been forced to close temporarily due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene. This closure poses a significant disruption to the national supply chain, potentially impacting hospitals and dialysis centers across the country.
As of Tuesday, the US Food and Drug Administration had not declared any new shortages resulting from the plant's closure. However, various federal agencies are actively engaged in recovery efforts to restore operations at the plant and are collaborating on interim strategies to mitigate risks.
The North Cove site of Baxter International, situated in Marion, North Carolina, is the largest producer of IV fluids and dialysis solutions in the United States. The company announced in a news release on Sunday that the site had been affected by flooding from the storm, leading to its current production shutdown.
Both federal and local authorities are prioritizing efforts to minimize disruptions in the supply chain. They are closely coordinating with Baxter International to assess the available supply and explore resource allocation options to address the situation.
This is not the first time Baxter International has faced challenges due to severe weather. In 2017, the company's facilities in Puerto Rico were significantly impacted by Hurricane Maria, resulting in prolonged disruptions to the medical supply chain, particularly affecting the availability of IV bags essential for medication administration.
