Chance (15 Mar 2020)
"Drug Shortages"


 

Hello John and Doves,

Well, here we go...we knew this was coming.

"The coronavirus outbreak is sparking fears of drug shortages in the U.S., largely due to its disruption of pharmaceutical supplies from China and India.  The Food and Drug Administration has warned of shortages in one drug due to the coronavirus, while the penicillin shipment to the U.S. from China have dried up .'https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/06/coronavirus-drug-shortages-antibiotics-penicillin-china-india-us-fda/4939115002/
Coronavirus spurs fears of drug shortages: Antibiotics may be at risk

Don't count on India to help with the Chinese drug shortage!

"FiercePharmaAsia - India restricts drug exports...."  "The coronavirus outbreak has led India to temporarily stop exporting 26 active ingredients and drugs, including several antibiotics. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma-asia/fiercepharmaasia-india-restricts-drug-exports-roche-s-actemra-fights-covid-19-takeda
FiercePharmaAsia—India restricts drug exports; Roche's Actemra fights COVID-19; Takeda assets sale | FiercePharma

"While eyes have been on China for signs that COVID-19 might result in drug shortages, India has come up with a surprise of its own.  The country, which accounts for about 40% of the U.S. generic drugs, has halted exports of more than two dozen APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) and drugs.  India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade today announced it was restricting 26 APIs and formulations until further notice.  They range from paracetamol - the ingredient in Tylenol - to antivirals like acyclovir for treating shingles and antibiotic neomycin....India gets 70% of its ingredients and drugs from China and then manufactures many of them for export to the rest of the world.  A serious interruption in its supply lines could track directly to the U.S., creating shortage or forcing up prices."
https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/coronavirus-spurs-india-to-restrict-exports-two-dozen-drugs
Coronavirus spurs India to restrict exports of 2 dozen drugs | FiercePharma

"There are fears of global drug shortages of some common drugs as India limited the export of certain medicines due to the coronavirus....It comes as many drug ingredient makers in China remain shut or cut output..."Even drugs that aren't produced in China get their base ingredients from China.  Globally there could be a shortage if China and India both get hit," warned analyst Shaun Rein from the China Market Research Group.  The list of ingredients and medicines accounts for 10% of all Indian pharmaceutical exports and includes several antibiotics, such as tinidazole and erythromycin, the hormone progesterone and Vitamin B12...There are already signs that the reduction in supply in India has pushed up prices there considerably."  The Indian government has urged calm over its announcement and said there were enough stocks to last for up to three months.  In 2018 Indian imports accounted for almost a quarter of US medicines and more than 30% of medicine ingredients, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.  https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51731719
Coronavirus: Drug shortage fears as India limits exports - BBC News

The FDA has suspended its inspections in China - when the State Department announced its 'do not travel to China' warning - the FDA recalled its inspectors from China.  This has raised concerns about the quality of the drugs imported from China.  80% of the drugs consumed in the U.S. are manufactured in China.  As of February 24, 2020 there are a reported 150 drugs whose supply has been threatened by the coronavirus as China has stopped manufacturing ingredients for these drugs or stopped manufacturing the drugs themselves - including antibiotics, brand drugs, generic drugs.

And there are growing fears that China could use their drug manufacturing as leverage/blackmail against the U.S. and other countries that rely heavily on their drugs and drug ingredients. 

Tucker Carlson brings up this possibility on "Tucker: Extortion from China is the real threat"  March 6, 2020.
Starting at about 3'50" in this youtube.   Tucker talks about our dependence on China.  Not just medicine, but computers, machine tools, phones, almost everything.  More than 95% of all antibiotics used in the U.S are manufactured in China - China has a monopoly on something so incredibly important to the U.S.!  "This is sabotage. We are about to learn how undermined we've been...extortion from China is the existential threat we face .. in very real ways the Chinese government controls us....we need to rebuild American manufacturing.  Time to make America strong and truly independent."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqDrZYNafAg
(6) Tucker: Extortion from China is the real threat - YouTube

We are in such an ill prepared state that the U.S.has lifted tariffs on Chinese masks/medical supplies!  We can't even make face masks in the U.S.!  What a sorry state of affairs!

"The U.S. lifts tariffs on Chinese face masks and other medical supplies amid coronavirus outbreak."  March 6, 2020.  The administration has offered tariff relief for more than 100 of medical items from China, including face masks, sanitization products, isolation gowns and more.https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/us-lifts-tariffs-on-chinese-medical-supplies-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-3-1028973176
The US lifts tariffs on Chinese face masks and other medical supplies amid coronavirus outbreak | Markets Insider

Meanwhile, emergency shipments of masks have been sent to China to help protect medical workers.  Also, isolation gowns, coveralls, exam gloves have been sent.  China can't even keep up with their demands for face masks, much less the world's!  https://www.directrelief.org/2020/01/direct-relief-rushes-facial-masks-to-china-to-fight-coronavirus-spread/
Direct Relief Rushes Facial Masks to China to Fight Coronavirus Spread

The U.S. is finding out how woefully unprepared she is for a pandemic!  How woefully dependent she is on another country!  And how woefully dependent she is on a country that's her enemy. 

Here is a link to the FDA Drug Shortage List for your perusal.  It doesn't tell us which shortages are due to the coronavirus...
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/default.cfm

FDA Drug Shortages

Things can get so much worse.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

Maranatha!

Chance