Infusion fluids, commonly known as drips, are one of the most important products in emergency care. It is still unclear how great the impact will be of the problems at the factory in North Carolina, but the Medical Products Agency in Sweden wants to prepare for shortages already now.
They are absolutely necessary products. We therefore feel that we must engage in dialogue with the relevant parties and ensure that we keep track of the supply and demand situation, says Veronica Arthurson, director at the Medical Products Agency.
The information the Medical Products Agency has received is that the problems at Baxter, the largest supplier, will be prolonged even if production resumes.
In the worst-case scenario, we will not get enough of these products to meet demand. Healthcare may need to ration the supply and prioritize patient groups.
In addition to ongoing dialogue with healthcare regions, the Medical Products Agency is also in continuous dialogue with three companies in Sweden that manufacture this type of product.
But since Baxter supplies the Swedish market with fairly large quantities, it is a challenge for the others to scale up their production, says Veronica Arthurson.
The Medical Products Agency has also raised the issue with the European Medicines Agency.
