The island is home to a number of medical manufacturing companies including plants belonging to Abbott, Medtronic, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and others.

This week the US Congress approved an emergency spending bill to pay for relief efforts from recent disasters. The bill approved $36.5 billion to be spent on both the relief efforts in storm-ravaged US territory and to free up debt owed by the National Flood Insurance Programme. The spending plan now requires president Trump’s approval.

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) commented on the recent spending plan with president and CEO Scott Whitaker urging the president to sign the measure.

Whitaker said: “On behalf of the medical technology industry and the patients we serve, AdvaMed commends Congress for their action to provide additional funding to aid the people of Puerto Rico in their efforts to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria.

“Our industry is a critical component of Puerto Rico’s economy, with more than 20 medical technology manufacturers that account for over 15,000 jobs on the island. These facilities produce devices and diagnostics that are vital to helping patients worldwide live longer, healthier, and more productive lives, including products for diabetes care, heart valves, pacemakers and defibrillators, and advanced cancer diagnostics.

“The funding approved by Congress will help ensure these facilities get back to 100% as quickly as possible and continue to supply these important products without interruption. This aid will also assist our member company employees and their families on the island as they seek to recover and rebuild after all they have lost.

“We urge the president to sign this measure without delay and thank the administration for all its work in the recovery. The coordinated efforts between agencies – including HHS, FDA and FEMA – with our member companies have been especially effective as manufacturers have worked to ensure their employees are safe and have the resources they need.”

The FDA, which has staff based in Puerto Rico, has announced it is working with local agencies on the island, as well as the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to help alleviate any potential drug and medical device shortages.

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb commented on the situation in Puerto Rico, saying:

“During the weeks since Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the infrastructure of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has joined federal and local agencies in the effort to help the people of Puerto Rico recover and begin to rebuild the island”

Gottlieb goes on to say that the FDA is working closely with pharmaceutical and medical device companies to get facilities back online and to get staff back to work.

He said: “Unfortunately, the devastation caused by the hurricanes to Puerto Rico’s medical product manufacturing sector goes beyond the effects on pharmaceutical companies. The FDA has been working equally hard to minimise shortages of medical devices manufactured in facilities on the island.

There are currently more than 50 medical device manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico, employing about 18,000 people. Collectively, they manufacture more than 1,000 different kinds of medical devices. These include simple but essential products like surgical instruments and dental products as well as highly complex devices such as cardiac pacemakers and insulin pumps.”

The FDA is monitoring around 50 types of medical devices manufactured in Puerto Rico, Gottlieb said, all of which are important to patient care. The agency is working with 10 manufacturers to help prevent any medical device shortages across the US, focusing particularly on blood-related medical devices, Gottlieb said.