List of Medical Supplies at Risk of Shortage During COVID-19

July 13, 2020

3 minute read

As the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, emerged as a major threat to global health, we began compiling a list of critical supplies that would face high risk of shortage. The list was generated organically as we received requests from health systems asking us to provide data on different categories of affected medical supplies. In addition to data on US medical supplies, the list also includes items approved in Canada and Italy. The original list was published in April, and we have since updated it continuously.

There are benefits and drawbacks to our list. While it provides a thorough overview of high risk supplies and the companies that make them, the market is constantly shifting. Our list does not reflect supplies distributed by federal and state authorities, nor does it include manufacturers who have repurposed their facilities to begin manufacturing medical products. Additionally, when more providers have access to the list, it may further limit manufacturers’ capacity to field inquiries and requests. Still, we felt that it was important to make these data public, both in case they can be helpful to providers and to promote transparency into the healthcare supply chain in the face of a pandemic.

We recommend using this list for informational purposes. It may not be actionable due to ongoing shortages. But as manufacturers come on and offline over the next year, our list provides details on those manufacturers, like whether they are NIOSH or FDA approved, albeit with a time delay.

The product categories included in the list are: ventilators, BIPAP/CPAPs, nebulizers, circuits, HMEs, bronchoscopes, oxygen masks, nasal cannulas, stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, thermometers, gowns, masks, face shields/goggles/eye protection, swabs, bouffants (added 6/15/20), and shoe covers (added 6/15/20).

The linked video shows examples of possible file uses. The spreadsheet includes the following tabs:

1. High Risk Category Supply List: Supplies information for urgent categorical requests we’ve received. Some supplies overlap categories as shown in Column A. The "new_item" column denotes items that were added to the list in the most recent update.

  • Key Columns: Category, Country Data Source (US, Canada, Italy), UDI-DI, Item Description, Manufacturer Name
  • 2. Supply List Addresses: All supply chain addresses for manufacturing, repacking, sterilizing, etc., by item from the previous tab (High Risk Category Supply List). The key to connect the tabs is udi_di.

  • Key Columns: UDI-DI, Supplier Address
  • 3. All Companies In S-Chain: All companies in the supply chain of the high risk category supplies.

  • Key Columns: Category, Registration Listing (Company Name, Product Made, Company Address)
  • 4. Suspect Companies: Over 1,300 companies used false U.S. Agent information while registering with the FDA in the wake of COVID-19. We listed them in this tab so that if you are contacted by one of these companies, you are aware that they may be fraudulent. Read the full Wall Street Journal investigation here.

    5. NIOSH CEL Listing: All supplies approved by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (small overlap w/ FDA approved) for masks, respirators, PAPRs, etc.

  • Key Columns: Category, FDA Approved, Manufacturer, Model
  • 6. Additional Symmetric Fields: Additional supplies attributes available within the Symmetric databases and web application.

    Request the list:

    High Risk Supplies List

    Last Updated: 7/13/20