The economy is complex and interlinked. As the administration concentrates on distributing Neo Nazi videos it leaves the power off in Puerto Rico. Pennlive and Bloomberg news report that the lack of power to manufacturing plants on the island has created a shortage of medical saline bags.
The shortage stems from the fact that Baxter International Inc., the leading producer of IV saline bags, has three manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico. The plants are still impacted by electrical outages from Hurricane Maria, which struck in September.
IV bags have been the standard method of supplying hundreds of drugs to patients, and the shortage is now impacting hospitals on an hour by hour basis.
Congressional Republicans and the administration plan to relieve the situation by passing tax cuts for the rich and making medical care less available thereby decreasing the demand for bags.
Bloomberg said the situation has created a "nightmare" for hospital staffs around the country. It quoted a hospital nurse as saying, "I find it shocking that in the richest country in the world we run out of fundamental, basic supplies."
The bags cost about $1.50 each. The low profit margin has made them a low priority for the pharmaceutical industry, and the industry has failed to modernize plants and increase production, according to Bloomberg.