Electric Power at All Baxter Facilities in Puerto Rico Finally Returns

Following several months of efforts in Puerto Rico to recover from the widespread destruction from recent hurricanes, all three of Baxter’s IV saline and amino acids manufacturing facilities on the island are back on the power grid.

“All facilities will continue to have backup diesel generation in case of power interruptions, which still occur intermittently,” Baxter spokesperson Bill Rader told FDAnews.

The FDA had been working with Baxter to help restore production as the previously existing shortages of IV saline and amino acids for injections had been exacerbated when Hurricane Maria struck.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb reported the power returning all of the Baxter’s facilities “means that the shortage situation is anticipated to continue to improve in the coming weeks.” The company expects “more normal supply levels” in the next few weeks, Rader confirmed. 

Other devicemakers had also been affected. Edwards LifeSciences’ manufacturing facilities on the island, which had been impacted by a limited supply of diesel, strong winds and floods, are back to pre-storm capacity, quality manager Richard Rodriguez told FDAnews.