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Medical Supply Chains
This series is part of an ongoing investigation by the Global Reporting Centre, The Associated Press, and the PBS series FRONTLINE that examines the deadly consequences of the fragmented worldwide medical supply chain.
This series is generously supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Humanity United, and The University of British Columbia.
Official says vaccine expected in January, countering Trump
A Trump administration official leading the response to the coronavirus pandemic says the U.S. can expect delivery of a vaccine starting in January 2021, despite statements from the president that inoculations could begin this month.
U.S. medical supply chains failed, and COVID deaths followed
Medical supply chains are the fragile lifelines between raw materials and manufacturers overseas, and health care workers on COVID-19 front lines in the U.S. As link after link broke, the system fell apart. This catastrophic collapse was one of the country’s most consequential failures to control the virus.
Depleted national stockpile contributed to COVID PPE shortage
Sources both inside and outside the government raised alarms, pre-COVID, about leaving the nation and its frontline healthcare workers without a PPE safety net. But in the absence of an acute crisis, fully replenishing the stockpile was not a priority.
Scarcity of key material squeezes medical mask manufacturing
The U.S. still doesn't have enough N95 masks for healthcare workers. Our investigation found the administration took months to sign contracts with companies that make the crucial component inside these masks: meltblown textile.
US bets on small, untested company to deliver COVID vaccine
When precious vats of COVID-19 vaccine are finally ready, jabbing the lifesaving solution into the arms of Americans will require hundreds of millions of injections.
Counterfeit Masks Reaching Frontline Health Workers in U.S.
The latest in our investigation into medical supply chains traces counterfeit masks from China to hospitals and frontline workers across the U.S.
Groups used to serving desperately poor nations now help US
U.S. charities that traditionally operate in countries stricken by war and natural disaster are now sending humanitarian aid to some of the wealthiest communities in America.
Charities face growing need in pandemic without volunteers
With millions staying home during the pandemic, charities that help the country’s neediest are finding themselves in need.
Relief package billions can’t buy hospitals out of shortages
The billions of tax dollars headed for hospitals and states as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus response bill won’t fix the problem facing doctors and nurses: a critical shortage of protective gowns, gloves and masks.
Key medical glove factories cutting staff 50% amid virus
Malaysia’s medical glove factories, which make most of the world’s critical hand protection, are operating at half capacity just when they’re most needed.
Imports of medical supplies plummet as demand in US soars
The critical shortage of medical supplies across the U.S., including testing swabs, protective masks, surgical gowns and hand sanitizer, can be tied to a sudden drop in imports, mostly from China.