Most US drug facilities are in areas hit by natural disasters, risking shortages

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, causing extensive damage to a vital manufacturing facility responsible for producing intravenous fluids. This plant, Baxter International's North Cove facility in Marion, was critical to the healthcare system, supplying a staggering 60 percent of the nation’s sterile IV solutions used for treatments ranging from rehydration to drug delivery and kidney dialysis. The aftermath of the hurricane led to a nationwide crisis, as hospitals began to ration their supplies due to the sudden shortage. Many healthcare providers were forced to adjust treatment plans, and some surgeries were even postponed or canceled altogether. A recent survey indicated that over 86 percent of healthcare professionals reported being affected by the dwindling supplies. In response to the escalating situation, the federal government took measures to alleviate the crisis by relaxing importation regulations and extending expiration dates for existing supplies. This incident has highlighted the vulnerability of the US drug supply chain, which has been under strain for some time. Just months prior to Hurricane Helene, drug shortages had reached a record high, with 323 ongoing shortages reported. Although this number has decreased, there were still 253 shortages recorded in the first quarter of this year, according to data from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The underlying causes of these shortages are multifaceted, but natural disasters like Hurricane Helene play a significant role. This concern is likely to grow as climate change leads to more severe weather events. A recent study led by researchers at Harvard, published in JAMA, has underscored the threats posed by climate-related disasters on US drug production facilities, raising alarms about the sustainability of the drug supply amid increasing environmental challenges.