U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to utilize all available resources to tackle the national shortage of intravenous (IV) solutions.
This crisis follows the shutdown of Baxter International’s (NYSE:BAX) largest IV solutions manufacturing facility due to flooding from Hurricane Helene.
With Hurricane Milton looming, Senator Klobuchar warns that another facility in Daytona Beach, Florida, may also be at risk, worsening the current situation.
The Baxter facility is responsible for manufacturing approximately 60% of IV fluids and peritoneal dialysis solutions available to health care providers in the U.S.
Senator Klobuchar expressed deep concern over the implications of this shortage on patient care.
“Flooding from Hurricane Helene compromised the safe operations, inventory, raw materials and roadway access at Baxter International’s intravenous (IV) solution plant in Marion, North Carolina,” wrote Senator Klobuchar.
“As a result of Hurricane Helene, hospitals, dialysis centers, and other health care providers around the country—including many in Minnesota—are already being forced to ration these basic, but life-saving supplies.”
To mitigate the impact of this critical shortage, Klobuchar urged the HHS to act swiftly, coordinating with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to prevent the distribution of counterfeit IV solutions.
She called for measures to safeguard against price gouging and other illegal practices by companies marketing FDA-approved IV solutions.
Klobuchar stressed that no single entity should dominate the supply of such vital medical resources, as this poses a significant risk to national health and safety.
The senator’s efforts to combat drug shortages are not new.
The German healthcare group Fresenius SE (OTC:FSNUF) announced that its generic hospital drugs division, Fresenius Kabi, has recently commenced the production of intravenous (IV) solutions at a new facility in Wilson, North Carolina.
Additionally, Reuters highlighted the company is exploring options to expedite the launch of additional production lines at this unaffected site.
Fresenius said increasing U.S. production at the Wilson facility will take several months, but it won’t be sufficient to offset a prolonged shutdown at Baxter.
Price Action: BAX stock is up 2% at $37.87 at last check Wednesday.
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