Arizona PPE Initiative: Between Trumps’ mismanagement and Chinese lack of transparency

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim human lives, and it does not seem to be slowing at the rate we would hope for. As has been stated in the news, this pandemic has surged demand and reduced the global supply of critical personal protective equipment outside China. Just a few weeks ago, the New York Times published a story titled “In Scramble for Coronavirus Supplies, Rich Countries Push Poor Aside,” recounting the dramas that some developing countries are going through to access supplies (Bradley, 2020). The lack of medical supplies in the U.S. has generated concern, especially questioning if America is doing enough to help vulnerable groups and health care professionals at the forefront of the battle.

Due to the inconsistency of President Trump’s political actions, the White House has been accused of mismanagement through chaotic responses that have consistently ignored the scientific merit of experts. Dr. Rick Bright, a well-known virologist, has spent decades in government preparing for public health emergencies. Until last month, Dr. Bright was the deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response and director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Recently, Dr. Bright filed an open complaint against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), raising concern about the administrations’ COVID-19 response, alleging waste of funds, abuse of authority, and scientific censorship (OSC, 2020).

Among the concerns that Dr. Bright repeatedly raised in his whistleblower complaint, includes significant continuous shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and raised concerns that exporting masks to other countries (including China) further depleted an already inadequate supply (OSC, 2020). According to the 89-page report, Vice President Mike Pence was warned that exports of disposable surgical masks and N95 respirators were hurting the country. Also, information from an investigation conducted by ‘USA Today’ showed that the U.S. exported more protective masks this March than any other month in the past decade, totaling USD $83.1 million. Simultaneously, while Dr. Bright was waiting to testify at the House health subcommittee, the federal government was spending USD $400 million to decontaminate and reuse N95 masks (Zhang et al., 2020).

Our country has demonstrated the inability to meet an immediate need for critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment in the face of the COVID crisis (Paul, 2020). According to analysts, although admirable, Trump’s decision to enact the Defense Production Act to limit exports of medical goods and increase the production of critical supplies was implemented two and a half months late. Sadly, this delay and lack of planning meant the U.S. became just another buyer in the long list of global bidders in the protective equipment marketplace.

Locally, in Arizona, recognizing the urgent need to mitigate the fallout of getting much-needed PPE, a Phoenix-based private-sector initiative led by a team with vast international relationships formed to assist front line healthcare professionals, first respond, and tribal communities. Working with SGS and TUV, two highly respected global inspection and certification companies in the world, the initiative ensures that the equipment is reliable and of high quality. 

In particular, the pandemic has revealed critical vulnerabilities in the existing trade systems and global supply chains. Despite good-faith policies stemming from Chinese PPE suppliers, evidence shows that many charter planes from the U.S. have sat empty in China for days waiting for supplies (Wong and Mozur, 2020). American healthcare executives are increasingly complaining about supply delays, having stocks of millions of masks and other medical supplies piled up in factories and on warehouses floors, sometimes for weeks without moving (Wong and Mozur, 2020). The PPE shortage exemplifies how Chinese officials leverage their power to make it easy or difficult for vital supplies to flow to the U.S. and other countries.

Therefore, it’s vital to be direct and honest with buyers and suppliers during an outbreak to deliver life-saving devices accurately. Identifying responsibilities and defining expectations for each party helps build accountability, accelerate response times, and streamline the entire sourcing process. In the words of Rapoza (2020), the pandemic has exposed over-reliance on China as both a potential health risk and a business risk. Therefore, transparency is a pending issue that needs to be improved by many Chinese suppliers. 

Following Dr. Bright, it is imperative to understand that we are facing a war between humankind and a virus. Therefore, as a nation, we must focus on science and expert recommendations instead of politically connected projects. During these hard times, we need to understand that the most critical objective is to preserve life. 

Aside from the many lessons learned, from a global trade perspective, COVID-19 revealed the need to have trustworthy and reliable partners. What do you think? Is it possible for the U.S. to have an efficient domestic PPE production and avoid the current supply chain dependence with China? As always, I will like to read your comments.

Sources:

Bradley, J. 2020. In Scramble for Coronavirus Supplies, Rich Countries Push Poor Aside. The New York Times. URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/world/coronavirus-equipment-rich-poor.html

Paul, S. 2020. Why Can’t America Make Enough Masks or Ventilators? The New York Times. URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-industry-manufacturing.html

Rapoza, K. 2020. China Has Nationalized Its N95 Mask Makers. Forbes. URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2020/04/26/china-has-nationalized-its-n95-mask-makers/#2e63de8844e2

OSC (U.S. Office of Special Counsel). 2020. Addendum to the complaint of prohibited personnel practice and other prohibited activity by the Department of Health and Human Services submitted by Dr. Rick Bright. URL: https://www.kmblegal.com/sites/default/files/NEW%20R.%20Bright%20OSC%20Complaint_Redacted.pdf

Wong, E. and Mozur, P. 2020. Tensions rise in U.S. over China’s ‘donation diplomacy.’ The Telegraph. URL: https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Tensions-Rise-in-U-S-Over-China-s-Donation-15201064.php

Wong, E. and Mozur, P. 2020. China’s Donation Diplomacy Raises Tensions With U.S. The New York Times. URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/politics/coronavirus-china-trump-donation.html

Xinhua. 2020. Unity and Cooperation Are the International Community’s Most Potent Weapon to Overcome the Pandemic. URL: https://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-04/22/c_138998942.htm

Zhang, D., Wedell, K., and Mansfield, E. 2020. U.S. companies kept shipping masks overseas even as hospitals ran out and despite warnings. USA Today. URL: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/05/08/u-s-companies-kept-shipping-masks-overseas-despite-warnings/3090505001/