Some IV fluids are in short supply due to higher-than-expected demand and manufacturing issues. But why do IV fluids contain different chemicals? And why can’t they be interchanged when one runs low?
Saline is just salt and water, right? I would have assumed you can produce it pretty much everywhere if needed. What’s stopping other pharma companies from stepping in?
Salt and water are surely relatively cheap (although salt from your kitchen and water from your tap won’t do, you need chemically pure salt and distilled water).
You can make makeshift saline by mixing regular salt in distilled water and autoclaving it at 120°C and 1,2 atm for 30 minutes, but this is not hospital-grade.
Saline is just salt and water, right? I would have assumed you can produce it pretty much everywhere if needed. What’s stopping other pharma companies from stepping in?
Sterile environment and processes, mostly.
Salt and water are surely relatively cheap (although salt from your kitchen and water from your tap won’t do, you need chemically pure salt and distilled water).
You can make makeshift saline by mixing regular salt in distilled water and autoclaving it at 120°C and 1,2 atm for 30 minutes, but this is not hospital-grade.
I used to work in a hospital, but not in healthcare. But I got a bit of an understanding of some of their logistics.
It’s not the materials themselves but making sure everything is shelf-stable and sterile.
That’s the expensive part. The raw materials are a fraction of the price.