“ When we debrief and do the autopsy on COVID-19 , this is going to be important because as we rely on other countries for our supply chain , distribution channels and critical materials , we see the vulnerability we have in the U . S . I think it ’ s a wakeup call for us .”
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of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs in the world , producing approximately 18 billion doses of medicine each year .
“ For years , Mylan saved this country and patients trillions of dollars ,” says Petros .
In 2019 , after nearly 60 years as a West Virginia and Pennsylvania company , Mylan merged with a division of Pfizer Inc . to became Viatris . Viatris serves more than 165 markets around the world and has three global centers located in Pittsburgh , PA ; Shanghai , China ; and Hyderabad , India .
Are We at Risk ?
“ We have become too reliant on supply chains outside our own control , whether it is therapeutic drugs or steel or computer chips , and it happened because everybody wanted the lowest price possible ,” says Major General James Hoyer , USA , retired , and vice president of economic innovation at WVU . “ That put us , in my opinion , in a very vulnerable national security position .”
While this is cause for concern , Hoyer believes the U . S . can take advantage of this knowledge and create many jobs in the process .
“ How do we become part of the solution set ? How can we use applied research and knowledge so when the next virus or bug comes , there has already been some modeling done that looks at how , in 90 days or less , we could roll out something ?” he says . “ I think the applied capability to do that is there , but you also need the manufacturing piece . We must look at it from a national perspective . In the National Guard , I always said our job was to turn challenges into opportunities . This is clearly a national security challenge that we ought to turn into an opportunity going forward . The will is there , but it is going to take policy , political will and private capital investment to turn it around — and we have to do it pretty quickly .”
According to Marsh , the U . S . needs a foundation of its own production and manufacturing capabilities to rely on in times of crisis .
“ In times of tremendous stress , these channels can fracture , and these will be part of our national security and crisis response requirements in the future ,” he says . “ As part of our state leadership ,
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