Supply Chain

With 268 recalls, the second quarter of 2022 hit the record of the highest number of recalled medical devices since 2020, according to an industry report from Sedgwick. 

The Center for U.S. Policy is asking the FDA to deem Bamboo Health's pharmaceutical software NarxCare as a misbranded product. 

FDA officials are warning that medical device shortages could worsen now that the public health emergency has expired because with its end a requirement for medical device companies to notify the agency of shortages also ceased. 

Draeger Medical, or Dräger US, recalled more than half a million airway devices because of a manufacturing error that can lead to hypoxia and death, the FDA said May 24. 

New York-based Northwell Health is training healthcare professionals to identify and address forced labor in the medical supply chain.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center and medical devicemaker Philips teamed up to reduce the Nashville, Tenn.-based system's carbon footprint. 

In a new partnership, Minneapolis-based Allina Health recently chose Elmhurst, Ill.-based MedSpeed to transport physical materials including pharmaceuticals and specimens.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, suppliers in every industry — especially healthcare — experienced unparalleled supply chain challenges. These disruptions extended to surgical glove manufacturers and in some instances affected clinicians' trust in suppliers.

United Hospital Supply Corp. has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 17 serious violations, three willful violations and one other-than-serious violation.

Several breakdown areas in the pharmaceutical supply chain were brought to light by COVID-19, but looking ahead, three areas should be at the core of improvements, experts say: health equity, trust and communication, and public-private partnerships.