Chip shortages threaten diminished supply of CPAP machines
March 1, 2022
Signed by the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), the
American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM), and other medical
societies, a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and
the Department of Commerce requests the prioritization of medical
devices in computer chip manufacturing and allocation.
Supply chain disruptions and a nationwide shortage of semiconductor
chips are creating a shortage of medical devices exacerbated by the
summer 2021 Philips Respironics recall.
Medical device manufacturers are struggling to meet the needs of
patients because of increasing difficulties in procuring a sufficient
supply of semiconductor computer chips, which are essential to produce
medical devices such as blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors, and
respiratory care devices, including CPAP machines and ventilators.
“Medical devices are critical not just to the life but also to the
well-being of hundreds of millions of people,” says CHEST President
David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP. “Making sure that people can live their
best and longest lives should always be prioritized over commerce.
Resources should be allocated accordingly to maintain the health of the
population.”
Read the full letter below.
This communication is the result of advocacy efforts driven by CHEST on
behalf of patients with lung disease and the clinicians who treat them.
Members interested in participating in committee activities should
contact
advocacy@chestnet.org.
February 23, 2022
The Honorable Xavier Becerra
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201
The Honorable Gina Raimondo
Secretary
Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Secretary Raimondo: We write on behalf of several medical
societies and patient advocacy organizations to ask for your immediate
assistance to ensure that patients can continue to access
life-sustaining medical devices and critical diagnostic tests during
the current supply chain crisis. We believe that medical device
production needs to be prioritized to protect the health of Americans
who have chronic diseases and to provide urgent care for those who
experience a serious adverse event or injury.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six
in 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic disease requiring ongoing
medical attention or limiting activities of daily living. Some medical
device manufacturers are struggling to meet the needs of these patients
because of increasing difficulties in procuring a sufficient supply of
semiconductor computer chips, which are essential to produce medical
devices such as blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors, and
respiratory care devices including CPAP machines and ventilators. These
chips are also used in a variety of non-medical devices such as cell
phones, tablets, and household appliances. Although medical devices
require only a small fraction of the worldwide chip supply, some
medical device manufacturers are having trouble securing necessary
parts because of global supply constraints. A device shortage list
compiled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes both
dialysis-related products and ventilation-related products.
The COVID-19 pandemic greatly stressed multiple facets of the health
care system for patients and health care providers – ranging from
increased demands on hospitals, health implications due to suspension
of preventative screenings and support for chronic conditions, and the
physical and mental burnout of health care staff. The pandemic also
created early supply chain challenges. For patients who rely on CPAP
machines for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the availability
of their therapy has been further constrained by the June 2021 recall
announced by one manufacturer, affecting 5.2 million devices worldwide.
Therefore, we are turning to you for help.
We ask that you use your collective authority to prioritize medical
devices in computer chip manufacturing and allocation. We also ask for
the opportunity to meet with you and/or other colleagues to discuss
this issue in more detail. The medical and patient communities are here
to support your efforts and provide our expertise as needed. Please
contact Eric Albrecht, AASM advocacy program manager, at
ealbrecht@aasm.org with any questions.
Given the severity of the chip shortages affecting medical devices, we
urge you to act quickly in preventing the crisis of a medical device
shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank you for giving your
attention to this important issue and are grateful for your service to
our country.
Sincerely,
Raman K. Malhotra, MD, FAASM, President
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP, President
American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST)
Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, President
American Academy of Neurology
Sarah Gorman, President
Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners
Gilles Frydman, Executive Director
American Sleep Apnea Association