Here are four key insights from the report:
- Healthcare providers are bracing for continued disruptions, with 80% expecting supply chain challenges to worsen or remain the same in 2025. The effects of the disruptions are already severe, with 39% of providers reporting they had to cancel or reschedule procedures at least quarterly due to product shortages.
- On average, supply shortages are increasing the cost of providing care by $3.5 million per year for a medium-size health system. This trend is expected to continue, as ongoing inflation and rising labor and product costs remain significant financial challenges for providers and suppliers.
- Supply chain leaders have identified some of the key clinical areas in whichshortages are more pronounced with surgery and anesthesia (74%), emergency care (64%) and pain management (52%) making up the top three.
- Healthcare providers are adopting strategies to improve supply chain resiliency, with 62% focusing on stock-keeping unit rationalization and 54% focusing on enhancing supplier performance key performance indicators. Many are also turning to technology such as AI and blockchain to track supply availability.
