Hospitals across the United States continue to face critical shortages of intravenous (IV) fluids, a situation worsened by Hurricane Helene, which forced the closure of Baxter International’s North Cove facility in North Carolina. This factory is responsible for producing 60% of the IV fluids used in U.S. hospitals. The shortage has impacted surgeries and led to the postponement of non-emergency procedures, especially as hospitals preserve remaining supplies for urgent care.
The shortage comes at a challenging time for hospitals, as the demand for medical services rises in the fall and early winter months. Many patients schedule elective surgeries before the end of the year when insurance deductibles reset. With limited IV fluids, hospitals are forced to ration supplies and, in some cases, substitute fluids with oral hydration options such as water or sports drinks like Gatorade. Medical staff are also postponing planned surgeries, particularly orthopedic and heart procedures, due to the lack of sterile fluids.
In response, the Biden administration invoked the Defense Production Act, a wartime measure, to speed up recovery efforts at the Baxter facility. While the Baxter International factory did not sustain damage, the infrastructure surrounding the facility did, with roads and highways blocked due to debris from Hurricane Helene. This law gives priority access to necessary materials for rebuilding the factory and resuming production. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working closely with Baxter to ensure production can restart by the end of the year, though full production levels may not be restored for some time.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the importation of IV fluids from Baxter’s facilities abroad and is allowing other manufacturers, like B. Braun Medical, to ramp up their production. Despite these measures, experts caution that the shortage could persist for weeks or even months, with hospitals relying on limited supplies until production normalizes.
This shortage has led to broader discussions about the vulnerabilities in the U.S. medical supply chain, with hospitals struggling to manage both planned and emergency medical needs. Cold and flu season and high surgical demand have only exacerbated the situation. Dr. Chris DeRienzo of the American Hospital Association emphasized that the lack of supplies could delay patient care across the country.
Baxter has reported progress in its cleanup and repair efforts, and production is expected to resume in phases by the end of 2024. However, the shortage has already underscored the fragility of the healthcare supply chain, prompting calls for more robust safeguards to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
