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Scramble for medical equipment descends into chaos as U.S. states and hospitals compete for supplies
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/24/scramble-medical-equipment-descends-into-chaos-us-states-hospitals-compete-rare-supplies/
With prices rising and supplies uncertain, governors and health-care officials are urging the Trump administration to use the Defense Production Act to bring order
By Jeanne Whalen, Tony Romm, Aaron Gregg and Tom Hamburger
March 24, 2020 at 8:08 p.m. EDT
A mad scramble for masks, gowns and ventilators is pitting states against each other and driving up prices. Some hard-hit parts of the country are receiving fresh supplies of N95 masks, but others are still out of stock. Hospitals are requesting donations of masks and gloves from construction companies, nail salons and tattoo parlors, and considering using ventilators designed for large animals because they cannot find the kind made for people.
The market for medical supplies has descended into chaos, according to state officials and health-care leaders. They are begging the federal government to use a wartime law to bring order and ensure the United States has the gear it needs to battle the coronavirus. So far, the Trump administration has declined.
“I can’t find any more equipment. It’s not a question of money,” said New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whose state is battling the nation’s worst outbreak. “We need the federal help and we need the federal help now.”
At best, Cuomo said, his team has secured enough protective gear for health workers to last a few weeks. It’s been unable to buy most of the 30,000 ventilators it estimates it will need to keep hospitalized patients breathing at the peak of the crisis, he said.
</snip>
With prices rising and supplies uncertain, governors and health-care officials are urging the Trump administration to use the Defense Production Act to bring order
By Jeanne Whalen, Tony Romm, Aaron Gregg and Tom Hamburger
March 24, 2020 at 8:08 p.m. EDT
A mad scramble for masks, gowns and ventilators is pitting states against each other and driving up prices. Some hard-hit parts of the country are receiving fresh supplies of N95 masks, but others are still out of stock. Hospitals are requesting donations of masks and gloves from construction companies, nail salons and tattoo parlors, and considering using ventilators designed for large animals because they cannot find the kind made for people.
The market for medical supplies has descended into chaos, according to state officials and health-care leaders. They are begging the federal government to use a wartime law to bring order and ensure the United States has the gear it needs to battle the coronavirus. So far, the Trump administration has declined.
“I can’t find any more equipment. It’s not a question of money,” said New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whose state is battling the nation’s worst outbreak. “We need the federal help and we need the federal help now.”
At best, Cuomo said, his team has secured enough protective gear for health workers to last a few weeks. It’s been unable to buy most of the 30,000 ventilators it estimates it will need to keep hospitalized patients breathing at the peak of the crisis, he said.
</snip>
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
to waste precious time searching for supplies, manufacturers, etc.
This is a prime example of where an well-run federal government can make a significant difference in reducing the impact of a crisis. Unfortunately, we have an incompetent sociopath in the White House.
