Heads of various medical and infectious disease associations called on President Donald Trump to swiftly invoke the Defense Production Act and use it to force private industry to meet the current demands for medical supply and equipment production.
As one, the presidents and chairs of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, HIV Medicine Association, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists have written urging invocation of what has, traditionally, been a wartime act. The act empowers the federal government to maintain national security by demanding private industry ramp up supply and distribution of resources deemed to be critical.
“Infectious disease and HIV physicians, healthcare epidemiologists and other medical professionals on the frontlines defending our country from COVID-19 urgently need equipment and supplies to protect themselves, identify infections, treat patients, and save lives. In health settings across the country, we are confronting shortages of essential equipment—including viral culture swabs, gloves, masks, eye protection, gowns, and ventilators—that we need now to diagnose and treat patients and to maintain a healthy and sufficient workforce in the face of this fast-moving and destructive virus,” the experts wrote.
Federal delays in testing and uncertainties between state and federal response have provoked widespread criticism of the U.S. response to COVID-19. States have noted difficulties in accessing medical equipment necessary to countering the outbreak and health care systems have warned the dangers of being overwhelmed are real. Matters have been further confused by the contradictions between the president and his staff. Just this week, Trump said the Defense Production Act was in full force but hadn’t needed to be used, while his Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Pete Gaynor said it could be used to produce thousands of additional test kits.