Medical Device Firms in Puerto Rico Still in Recovery Mode

Devicemakers in Puerto Rico continue to grapple with the widespread destruction left by Hurricane Maria.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who visited the island to see the challenges facing manufacturers of medical products, said the agency’s top priority is restoring operations at these facilities to prevent shortages.

Some device manufacturing facilities on the island are still only partially operational due to a lack of resources, and many employees at the firms have been unaccounted for as the hurricane devastated a large number of residential communities and disrupted transportation and communications.

Medtronic, Abbott and Edward Lifesciences are among the devicemakers that were hit by Maria and have just recently begun restoring their facilities and commercial offices.