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# Gottlieb Expects Improvements in PR Drug Supplies
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/gottlieb-expects-improvements-in-pr-drug-supplies/
- Published: 2018-01-05T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T23:11:32.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5140426

FDA commissioner **Scott Gottlieb** says he expects a shortage of IV saline fluids related to the hurricane destruction in Puerto Rico will improve early this year, with continuing improvements in the weeks ahead. In an online [update](https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm591391.htm?ref=fdaweb.com), he says Baxter, a leading producer of IV saline fluids, has indicated that all its Puerto Rican facilities have returned to the commercial power grid.

In addition, he says, other companies that manufacture products that were on the agency’s initial list of drugs that are considered critical and at risk of potential shortages because they were largely or entirely manufactured in Puerto Rico are now on the power grid.

The agency has been in frequent communication with hospitals, healthcare providers, and health system organizations about the burden the drug shortages have placed on them and the efforts they have taken to mitigate them, Gottlieb says. He says the agency will continue to engage with them and provide them information to support their management of the shortages.

“Given the improvements we’ve seen over the last few weeks,” he concludes, “I’m optimistic that supplies of IV saline and amino acids will increase over the next few weeks and the stress of the shortage will begin to abate, even if the shortages will not be fully resolved immediately. That said, the production situation in Puerto Rico remains fragile. As many risks and challenges remain and there are still shortages affecting patient care, we’ll continue to take all possible steps to help improve shortage situations.”