[WEBCAST] Examining U.S. Dependency on China in the Global Medical Supply Chain

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Schedule

UPDATE (August 25, 2020) — This program has been rescheduled from its original August 27 date.

Thursday, September 3, 2020
7:30 p.m. Moderated Discussion
8 p.m. Audience Q&A — Questions welcome via YouTube Live and Facebook Live

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During the coronavirus outbreak, global supply chains surged into the spotlight as manufacturing closures due to COVID-19 in parts of the world severely affected the ability of other parts of the world to acquire protective gear and medicines. China, in particular, is a dominant source of active pharmaceutical ingredients and chemical ingredients used to produce generic and over-the-counter drugs — including medicines such as antibiotics, blood pressure treatments, and sedatives used to treat people hospitalized with COVID-19.

For over 15 years, health experts have raised concerns about supply chain issues relating to critical drugs — concerns that have been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. Is the U.S. expected to face additional drug shortages in the future? What are the national security implications of U.S. over-reliance on outsourced manufacturing of core ingredients in thousands of essential medicines? How do the present U.S.–China tensions aggravate the situation further?

Join Asia Society for a discussion on the impact of drug supply shortages amid the COVID-19 pandemic and longer-term concerns of U.S. dependency on China for its critical lifesaving drugs.

About the Speaker

Rosemary Gibson is author of China Rx: Exposing the Risks of America’s Dependence on China for Medicine which reveals the dramatic shift in where medicines are made and growing concerns about their quality. It highlights the centralization of the global supply of medicines in a single country and implications in the event of a global pandemic, natural disaster, or geopolitical event.   

Ms. Gibson testified before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee in October 2019 and to the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission in July 2019. She has briefed senior leaders in executive departments, Congress, and industry leaders on the national security threats from U.S. dependence on China for medicines and proposes solutions to mitigate the risk.  

Earlier in her career, at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Ms. Gibson architected its decade-long national strategy to bring palliative care into the nation’s hospitals. When the work began, a handful of hospitals had a palliative care program whereas today nearly 2,000 acute care hospitals have a palliative care program. She worked with Bill Moyers on the PBS documentary, “On Our Own Terms.” She is recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. While at RWJF, Ms. Gibson led national quality improvement and patient safety initiatives working in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. She funded the first rapid response systems in U.S. hospitals, among other innovations. She has given grand rounds and patient safety presentations at hundreds of hospitals.  

Ms. Gibson is Senior Advisor at the Hastings Center. She is recipient of the American Medical Writers Association Award for her outstanding contributions to the public’s interest in reporting on critical health care issues. She serves on the MedStar Institute for Quality and Patient Safety Advisory Board in Washington, D.C. 

About the Moderator

Chris Tomlinson is a Business Columnist with The Houston Chronicle, where he has written commentary on business, energy, and economics since 2014. Before joining the Chronicle, he spent 20 years with The Associated Press reporting on politics, conflicts, and economics from more than 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller Tomlinson Hill, and he produced the award-winning documentary film by the same name. Both examine the history and consequences of race, politics, and economics in Texas.

Asia Society hosts today's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect Asia Society views.

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