By HFT Staff

At the beginning of the pandemic when medical supplies and PPE were scarce but in high demand, many organizations procured products based on availability rather than performance or standards. Because of these purchases, hospitals and other healthcare facilities received incorrect or substandard items. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources recently announced that they will be investing $250 million in expanding and sustaining the public healthcare supply chain in order to reduce dependency on foreign markets for all PPE. Ongoing activities to address PPE and durable medical equipment (DME) supply chain vulnerabilities and to strengthen the industrial base include: 

• growing the nation’s stockpiles 
• advancing domestic raw material manufacturing 
• expanding PPE research and innovation 
• expanding PPE and DME comfort, utility and protective capability 
• preventing counterfeit products from entering the U.S. market 
• analyzing semiconductor shortages and its impact on medical devices 
• updating PPE standardization system 
• establishing essential medical device list 
• increasing visibility to prevent disruptions and shortages.