Roger Marshall: “The spread of the coronavirus and its dominance in the news has been at the top of my mind as well as for many Kansans.…”

“The spread of the coronavirus and its dominance in the news has been at the top of my mind as well as for many Kansans. While there is no reason to panic, it is prudent for all of us to be mindful of the ongoing challenging situation. As a physician and Congressman, I feel it is important that I convey the steps the Federal Government is currently taking to best respond. First, we must demand more transparency from the Chinese and Iranian Governments. American experts must be allowed to get access to information on the ground in both China and Iran, particularly in Wuhan--ground zero of the outbreak. Unfortunately, these countries have a long history of misinformation and coverups, and we need to know the full truth to best protect Americans. Some in the American medical industry are concerned about a shortage of supplies which are largely manufactured in China. Currently, the FDA is not aware of any national shortages of medical products. Federal agencies have been proactively reaching out to hundreds of manufacturers to assess potential shortages and to let manufacturers know they can provide assistance. That being said, this is an excellent time to review our supply chain for both American healthcare as well as all other industries. I personally believe President Trump and Vice President Pence are doing everything in their power to protect Americans.…”