The first IV fluids imported from Baxter facilities in other countries reached the U.S. on Saturday

(Axios, Maya Goldman) —  IV fluids from as far away as China are being imported to the U.S. to alleviate nationwide shortages stemming from hurricane damage to a key manufacturing plant in North Carolina.

Why it matters: Hospitals now have 50% more IV fluid available to them than immediately after Hurricane Helene swamped Baxter International’s North Cove manufacturing site in Marion, North Carolina, per the Health and Human Services Department. But health providers expect shortages to last weeks longer.

State of play: The first IV fluids imported from Baxter facilities in other countries reached the U.S. on Saturday, HHS said.

  • The Food and Drug Administration has authorized temporary importation from Baxter plants in Canada, China, Ireland and the U.K., the company said. Baxter is working with the FDA to authorize imports from its other international sites.
  • Baxter, in partnership with HHS’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, expects to deliver nearly 18,000 tons of products from Europe and Asia by the end of the year.
  • The FDA has also added more IV solutions to the drug shortage list, which allows for the distribution of compounded substances

Meanwhile, pre-hurricane staffing levels will resume at Baxter’s North Carolina plant this week, the company said on Monday.

  • The more than 2,500 employees will work alongside more than 1,000 contractors who are helping bring the facility back up to speed. But the company does not yet have a timeline for when pre-hurricane production levels will be restored.
  • Progress on restoring the physical facilities “has exceeded our expectations in many respects,” the company wrote in its Monday memo.

Yes, but: Hospitals are preparing to weather IV fluid shortages for a while longer.

  • The Indiana Hospital Association said it could take weeks for hospitals to get their allocated IV fluids, despite importations and Baxter’s North Carolina facility ramp-up.
  • Oregon Health & Science University interim CEO Joe Ness told his board of directors last week that the the acute shortage could last as long as six more weeks, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
  • “We’re managing through it, but it is very tough. It does remind us of COVID days,” Ness told the board.