The Daily Why the U.S. Is Running Out of Medical Supplies
Mar 31, 2020
Sarah Kliff, an investigative reporter for The New York Times focused on health care, discusses alarming medical supply shortages in the U.S. during the pandemic. She reveals how global outsourcing has left America unprepared for crises. The conversation dives into outdated regulations that hinder hospital capacity and the government's struggles with ventilator manufacturing. Kliff highlights the profit-driven nature of healthcare and the urgent need for a national stockpile to safeguard against future emergencies.
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Mask Shortage Insight
- The U.S. faces mask shortages due to a shift in manufacturing from domestic to overseas locations, primarily China.
- This overseas production model, while cost-effective, became vulnerable during the pandemic due to increased demand and export restrictions.
Hospital Bed Shortage
- A 1974 law restricted hospital bed construction to control healthcare costs.
- This led to fewer beds per capita in the U.S., creating a shortage during the pandemic's surge.
Ventilator Shortage Anecdote
- In 2006, the government partnered with Newport Medical to develop cheaper, simpler ventilators.
- After Newport Medical was acquired by Covidien, the contract dissolved due to conflicting business interests, leaving the U.S. without the anticipated ventilators.