With coronavirus cases fast-spreading worldwide, the US is taking extraordinary measures to contain the virus and reduce deaths. Some 960,000 Americans will need ventilators to breathe, especially the vulnerable population, according to the American Hospital Association.
Automakers are answering the call to manufacture critical medical technologies and equipment, including ventilators for Covid 19, USA Today reports. Tesla, Ford, and GM Motors are discussing returning to the production line after suspending some operations in light of the pandemic. How fast these manufacturers can deliver these essential technologies to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and clinics across the country is uncertain.
In a viral tweet yesterday, President Trump championed the swift action automakers are taking to help the nation. In the same breath, he’s pressing them to work expeditiously. Since the Covid 19 spread, the administration has been facing a slew of criticism for failing to act sooner. According to USA Today, the shortage of ventilators is not the only outcry as the healthcare sector is lacking several essentials to meet their capacity. Their reluctance to activate the Defense Product Act was a frequent topic in discussions. It would have prompted manufacturers to streamline product manufacturing for the healthcare sector sooner. Richard Trumka, president of the nation’s labor union AFL-CIO, spoke on the regulatory adjustments necessary for manufacturers to increase production capacity.
On Sunday, the FDA also announced that it has temporarily waived approval requirements for medical devices and technologies. Previously, manufacturers would modify machines that did not comply with FDA recommended parts guidelines. For now, the regulator is waiving this protocol to facilitate the crisis. With this lift, manufacturers can meet production demand and ensure the nation receives the vital resources it needs to save lives. Ford is still in dialog with the British government and the US discussing production plans.
General Motors will be working alongside medical device specialist Ventec Life Systems to streamline ventilator manufacturing efforts. It will provide the necessary hardware and logistics to help the company increase production output. GM chief executive Mary Barra is planning on requesting workers to return to the production line, economist Larry Kudlow says. He interviewed the CEO and several other automotive industry executives to get an outlook on their strategy.
Kudlow added that Barra said she might propose it as a voluntary exercise. He reckons this shift in production trends could be reminiscent of the efforts made during WW II. The event Roosevelt called the “arsenal of democracy,” a time when automakers became manufacturers of weapons, tanks, aircraft, and ammunition.
