The current hurricane season will require providers, manufacturers and distributors to make adequate supply chain preparations.
Jeff Lagasse, Editor – June 17, 2024 –
Healthcare providers can expect supply chain disruptions during the current hurricane season – which runs from June through November – and the Food and Drug Administration is advising them to make the necessary preparations. 
The FDA is telling providers to be ready and is encouraging any medical device stakeholders to adequately prepare for the disruptions to minimize any effects to patient care. Adequate preparation, the FDA said, can help ensure that critical supplies can still be delivered in a timely manner.
WHAT’S THE IMPACT
The FDA’s general recommendations include engaging with supply chain partners and other entities who may be able to supply resources and assistance during an emergency; the agency encourages creating Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) to formalize expectations for sharing resources during an emergency.
The agency also advises assessing risk by identifying the potential impact of emergencies like hurricanes, wildfires, or pandemics on the supply chain and business operations.
