After the storms, restoring Puerto Rico’s already weak electrical grid is FDA’s top priority

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration’s biggest concern in Puerto Rico is access to electricity, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said at a congressional hearing Tuesday morning.

“If [drug and device manufacturing plants] don’t return to the grid by the end of this year, we’re concerned we could face multiple potential shortages,” Gottlieb said. He added that the concern could be mitigated if companies temporarily shift more of their manufacturing operations off the island during the recovery process.

The FDA has not announced any shortages directly related to Hurricane Maria, but Gottlieb said that the agency is keeping close watch on 30 different drugs and 50 types of devices.

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