(Reuters) -Hurricane Helene’s impact on medical device maker Baxter International’s North Cove facility could further limit the supply of intravenous fluids, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday.
The company said it aims to restart production in phases and return to 90% to 100% allocation of certain IV solutions by the end of 2024.
Baxter said it was also increasing the U.S. allocation of its IV fluids for direct customers to 60% from 40% and for distributors to 60% from 10%, effective Oct. 9.
The company had on Sept. 29 said production at its North Cove site has been closed due to hurricane-related flooding and it was working with the government to assess the damage and bring the plant back online.
On Tuesday, Germany’s Fresenius said it was checking options to start new infusion-solution production lines faster than planned at a North Carolina facility to help mitigate potential shortages due to the impact on Baxter’s site.
(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Arun Koyyur)
