FDA working to prevent medical device shortages from Puerto Rico

The Food and Drug Administration continues to work with medical device manufacturers in Puerto Rico to prevent product shortages following Hurricane Maria, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., said Friday. More than 50 facilities on the island manufacture medical devices. “Most, if not all, of these device manufacturers continue to run on generator power, and as a result, have been unable to return to pre-hurricane production levels,” Gottlieb said. The agency is working to help the facilities “secure fuel and logistical support to move critical products onto and off the island,” and considering importing devices from other countries, when necessary, or allowing manufacturers to shift production to alternative sites, he said.