Supply Chain

Managing supplies is a crucial part of moving medical products from the manufacturer to patient’s bedside. Efficient supply chains can reduce healthcare costs and make medical devices more affordable for patients and health systems. This news page includes content on supply shortages, inventory management, and procurement practices.

FDA posts guidance on managing risk of drug shortages

The Food & Drug Administration has drafted guidelines to help U.S. healthcare better prepare for and respond to events associated with these situations.

A comparison between a traditional iodine contrast angiogram (left), and a gadolinium contrast angiogram (right). MRI gadolinium contrast is starting to be used in some interventional radiology procedures and is being considered in interventional cardiology due to the iodine contrast shortage.

Gadolinium can be used as substitute for iodine contrast in some interventional imaging procedures

Gadolinium might be an alternative, stop-gap solution for interventional procedures during the current iodine contrast shortage.

FDA asks drug makers to address shortages

Drug shortages have been impacted by COVID-19, with 95% of doctors believing the pandemic exposed weaknesses in the medicine supply chain.

Alan Matsumoto explains gadolinium as substitute for iodine contrast during shortage

VIDEO: Gadolinium being substituted for iodine contrast in some procedures due to shortage

Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, chair of the department of radiology at the University of Virginia, vice chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Board of Chancellors, and chairman of the ACR Commission on Interventional and Cardiovascular Radiology, explains that the iodine contrast shortage has led to use of MRI gadolinium contrast agents in some cases.

Addressing contrast media shortage in the short, mid and long term

“We need to commit to changing the supply chain so that a single event in a faraway country does not put us in this predicament again," experts wrote in a new special report shared by Radiology.

GE provides update on contrast media shortage

The COVID lockdowns at the Shanghai plant began on March 31, and although the plant there has since resumed operations, they are not yet at 100% capacity.

AHA presses GE for a detailed progress report on CT contrast shortage

The American Hospital Association is asking GE Healthcare to more fully apprise AHA’s nearly 5,000 member organizations of what the company is doing to help ameliorate the ongoing disruption in supplies of Omnipaque (iohexol).

Frontline perspectives on the CT contrast shortage: 5 notable quotes

U.S. healthcare is now a solid week into the CT contrast shortage of ’22, and common themes are emerging in adaptations at local hospitals and imaging centers.