An increasing number of groups are voicing their opposition to proposals by the Trump administration to force drug companies and medical device manufacturers to source materials in the United States, according to one trade organization.
President Donald Trump, and White Office officials, have indicated several times that he will sign an executive order requiring federal agencies to buy only United States-produced products.
Trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News in May that such an order was needed to address issues over the amount of product sourced in China, according to a report by Reuters news agency. He did not reveal any substantive details.
PhRMA, which represents the country’s leading biopharmaceutical research companies, has expressed its deep opposition to the proposed order, and claimed many stakeholders have voiced concerns.
Nicole Longo, PhRMA's director of public affairs, wrote in a post on the organization's website that proponents of these proposals also ignore the strength of a geographically diverse global supply chain.
"As we work to combat the current global pandemic, it is especially critical to maintain the stability of our global manufacturing supply chain," she said. "Unfortunately, recent policy proposals that would mandate drastic changes to pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chains underestimate the significant time, resources and other feasibility challenges and complexities involved."
The post also included quotes from various organizations and individuals and links to their more detailed written objections.
This includes a letter to Trump penned by nearly 70 groups representing patients, consumers, taxpayers, health care providers, payers and members of the pharmaceutical and medical device.
"These supply chains have been built over decades and include appropriate safeguards to ensure safety and efficacy of products," the letter stated. "Keeping that supply chain strong is even more critical as we fight a global pandemic. Proposals to drive all manufacturing to the United States not only overestimate the potential feasibility and underestimate the time and effort it would take to make such changes."
They added that the proposals also misunderstand that a diverse pharmaceutical supply chain is precisely what enables the industry to respond quickly and make adjustments in its supply chain sourcing during natural emergencies and global public health crises, according to the letter.
"The new order aims to bring the pharmaceutical supply chain back to the United States by forcing federal agencies to 'Buy America'—American medical equipment, American pharmaceutical ingredients, American drugs and vaccines, you name it," Sally Pipes, president and chief executive of the Pacific Research Institute, wrote in an opinion piece published by Forbes. "Suddenly forcing the industry to upend existing production chains and only use U.S. manufacturers and inputs would prove disastrous. It would make it nearly impossible to deliver medicines and medical products at the pace required during this emergency. Crippling shortages and delays would ensue.”
Alerts Sign-up