Ernst, Peters Fight to Secure Medical Supply Chain from China
Nearly 80 percent of manufacturing facilities producing active pharmaceutical ingredients are located outside of the United States
WASHINGTON – Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are working to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce our reliance on China for pharmaceutical ingredients.
Nearly 80 percent of manufacturing facilities producing active pharmaceutical ingredients are located outside of the United States. Overreliance on foreign manufacturing poses a national security risk in the event of a crisis, especially because more than 15 critical drug products have been in shortage for over a decade.
“The United States cannot continue to rely on our foreign adversaries, like China, for critically important materials to meet the medical needs of Americans,” Senator Ernst said. “I’m sounding the alarm on our compromised medical supply chain. It’s past time to reduce our reliance on bad actors and protect the health of our citizens now and in the future.”
“Our federal government’s lack of visibility into the entire supply chain for critical medications limits our ability to address drug shortages that pose a serious national security risk and could compromise medical care for people all across the country, including service members,” Senator Peters said. “This bipartisan legislation will provide the federal government with a better understanding of how our overreliance on foreign nations for critical drugs threatens our military readiness and creates health risks for Americans, which will help lawmakers ensure our nation is better able to mitigate these national security threats. This is just the first step, and I am continuing to work on additional legislation that will help strengthen our drug supply chains and prevent drug shortages.”
The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Risk Assessment Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a risk assessment of the pharmaceutical supply chain in partnership with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy to determine how potential shortages can impact national security and broader public health. This information would be used to help inform future action to secure the supply chain.
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