A promising initiative to bolster American manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic appears to be languishing, with several key projects receiving substantial public funding but struggling to get off the ground. In southern Virginia, an 85-foot-tall, dark-gray chemical plant was established to produce synthetic rubber needed for medical exam gloves.
However, it has yet to produce a single glove. In Maryland, a new factory intended to transform synthetic rubber into gloves remains unfinished. And a glove factory in New Hampshire, despite acquiring high-speed production lines, has not fully assembled them and recently laid off over 100 workers.
These projects received approximately $290 million in public funding as part of a $1.5-billion federal government investment to enhance American production of medical masks, gowns, gloves, and their raw materials. The goal was to reduce dependence on imports from Asia and prevent future shortages during health crises. However, a group of manufacturers has claimed that this effort has stalled, jeopardizing American companies trying to produce PPE.
The government’s commitment to PPE manufacturing in the United States has been called into question, as executives have written to lawmakers in Congress expressing concerns. Experts like Greg Burel, who directed the federal Strategic National Stockpile for many years, emphasize the importance of domestic PPE production for national preparedness.
The challenges faced by these projects highlight the difficulties in manufacturing PPE domestically. One example is medical exam gloves, which are mainly imported from Asia. To make them more affordable on American soil, the CEO of Blue Star NBR, Scott Maier, had plans for a glove factory and a chemical plant producing the necessary synthetic rubber.
While the rubber plant was funded, the lack of funding for the glove factory has hindered progress. Blue Star NBR needs an estimated $60-70 million to complete the chemical plant and start rubber production. Despite incentives and investments in domestic PPE manufacturing, the challenge lies in finding customers for the raw materials.
United Safety Technology, another company that received government funding to create a glove production factory, has faced challenges due to unexpected expenses and shifting global market dynamics. Chinese manufacturers have driven down glove prices, making it difficult for American producers to compete.
PPE manufacturers in the United States find it challenging to outcompete foreign-made products, as cost-conscious hospital consortiums and healthcare distributors often prioritize lower prices over domestic production. While subsidies and incentives could make American-made PPE more appealing, the need for these products during pandemics may not justify such expenses in the eyes of policymakers.
PPE manufacturers urge the government to support them through long-term purchase contracts or reimbursements for healthcare organizations buying American-made products. Without such assistance, the promise of bolstering domestic PPE production remains unfulfilled, leaving the nation vulnerable in the face of future health crises.
News Reference
Greenfieldboyce, N. (2023). More medical gloves are coming from China, as U.S. makers of protective gear struggle. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/03/1198434566/medical-gloves-china-u-s-makers-personal-protective-gear-struggle
