Below are five of the top supply chain stories published by Becker's Hospital Review in September, beginning with the most popular:
1. China trade war will hit hospitals in the wallet, medical supply company says
The U.S. trade war with China threatens to hit hospitals and health systems as well as consumers in the form of higher prices and product shortages, the president of medical supply distributor DealMed said.
2. 10 largest medical device companies by revenue
People care about the actions of medical device companies — especially as the industry faces heightened political pressure to ensure the safety of their products. Below is a list of the top medical device companies worldwide based on revenue in 2018. Medical Design and Outsourcing, an industry magazine, generated the list.
3. FDA warns of more device shortages linked to sterilization plant closure
Another Sterigenics sterilization plant is temporarily closed in an effort to reduce its gas emissions, which could impact medical device supply chains, the FDA warned Sept. 13.
4. SAP launches blockchain platform to verify prescription drugs
Software companies SAP and Chronicled have teamed up to deploy a blockchain solution to help pharmaceutical companies comply with the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act, according to a Sept. 3 news release.
5. FDA takes lid off secret database, exposes top 3 problem devices
The FDA recently ended a program that allowed devicemakers to conceal nearly 6 million reports of device-related harm and malfunctions from the public and physicians. Under the program, the reports were hidden in a database, but they are now accessible to the public.