A snapshot of supply chain-related headlines of the global outbreak
Editor’s note: On Jan. 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). On Jan. 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.
The disease has since been confirmed in more than 100 countries, and as of press time, had infected almost 110,000, with more than 3,800 deaths.
The following stories from the dail-enews offer a snapshot into how the coronavirus affected the healthcare supply chain through just one window of time (early March). For regular updates on the coronavirus, subscribe to the dail-enews, visit http://dn.mdsi.org/.
Trump administration says testing for virus would ramp up quickly as 600+ U.S. cases confirmed
March 10: The Trump administration said that testing for the coronavirus would ramp up quickly in the coming weeks. “There will be more cases,” said Vice President Mike Pence. “But we simply ask for the American people to engage in common sense practices.” President Donald Trump appeared briefly at the start of the news conference to announce that the administration was considering a relief package for American workers harmed by the outbreak. More than 500 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in 35 states and the District of Columbia, not counting cases stemming from repatriation. But the number of cases could be much higher due to a lag in testing in the U.S.
U.S. healthcare conferences disrupted by coronavirus
March 9: A growing number of conference organizers are cancelling, postponing or transitioning to virtual meetings as the coronavirus spreads across the globe and the U.S. This week’s HIMSS Conference (Orlando, FL) was canceled for the first time in its nearly 60-year history. President Donald Trump was scheduled to speak at the healthcare IT conference set for March 9-13. The famed tech, film and music SXSW Conference (Austin, TX), scheduled for March 13-22, was also canceled.
Hospitals keep close eye on supplies during coronavirus outbreak
March 9: The coronavirus outbreak has hospitals keeping a close eye on their supplies. Washington state, for example, has seen the largest cluster of cases and has used a lot of protective equipment when treating patients with the virus. “I am concerned we will have some shortages of that,” said George Roberts, president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, during a briefing at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. “We certainly have our eyes on the supply chain,” Doug Allred, spokesperson for Cone Health (North Carolina), told Fierce Healthcare. “Certain supplies are on allocation from distributors, which means we cannot get amounts over and above our normal usage. So it is important that staff are aware of the situation.”
World Health Organization urges for 40% in increased production on protective gear
March 4: The World Health Organization (WHO) urged manufacturers to urgently increase the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide. The scarcity of gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles and face shields are leaving frontline clinicians poorly equipped to encounter COVID-19 patients. According to WHO, PPE supplies need to be increased by 40% worldwide. “Without secure supply chains, the risk to healthcare workers around the world is real,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of WHO. “Industry and governments must act quickly to boost supply, ease export restrictions and put measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding. We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers first.” WHO is working with governments, industry and the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to boost production and provide PPEs for critically affected and at-risk countries.
U.S. government promises to buy all leftover face masks to encourage production
March 3: The U.S. government was promising to buy all the leftover face masks and respirators manufacturers had on hand once the coronavirus scare subsides and demand dries up. A pre-solicitation issued to suppliers by HHS last week laid out its intention to procure up to 500 million N95 respirators and face masks during the next 18 months for its Strategic National Stockpile. The masks will be used to protect healthcare workers and first responders from airborne pathogens. Companies, though, are already struggling to meet demand, which is outpacing supply. The Strategic National Stockpile is made up of vitally important pharmaceuticals, vaccines, antidotes and other emergency supplies in strategic locations across the country.
Premier says 44% of N95 orders over past 45 days have yet to be fulfilled
March 2: Premier Inc. (Charlotte, NC) said that 44% of its members’ N95 orders over the past 45 days had yet to be fulfilled. Company officials describe this as very abnormal. Under normal circumstances, they would expect nearly all of their usual orders to be fulfilled within one or two days. Soumi Saha, senior director of advocacy for Premier, told CNN that the manufacturers of medical devices like N95s aren’t necessarily reporting shortages to the FDA, but unlike drug manufacturers, they don’t have to by law
President Trump asks pharmaceutical companies to accelerate efforts on vaccine
March 2: President Donald Trump has asked pharmaceutical companies to accelerate efforts to create a coronavirus vaccine. President Trump said pharmaceutical representatives were scheduled to visit the White House Monday and the meeting would now focus on coronavirus and vaccines. “We’re going to have another subject, vaccines, and how they’re doing,” said President Trump. “We’ve asked them to accelerate whatever they’re doing in terms of vaccines, absolutely.”