Many hand-sanitizer dispensers are running dry in health facilities across Island Health, but not because there is a shortage.
The question of half-empty and empty dispensers at hospitals was raised at a virtual town hall meeting. Island Health said hand sanitizer is not in short supply. Rather, the health authority has been unable to get cartridges — recyclable plastic bags that hold the sanitizer — for the dispensers from supplier DEB Group.
The wall-mounted dispensers require the user to push a bar to release a foaming cleanser.
There has been an exponential increase in demand for hand- hygiene and cleaning products since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, said William Masterson, a Chicago-based spokesman for S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., which owns the supplier.
A global shortage in May of raw materials — including medical-grade ethanol and components for the dispensing cartridges and packaging — have led to delays and, despite increased production, high demand has outstripped supply, Masterson said.
“We recently were able to secure additional raw material supplies and we’ve increased production,” he said, “so we would expect supply levels to return to the increased amount that we ramped up to after the pandemic hit.”
The company has told distributors to prioritize health-care facilities and first responders.
Island Health has placed hand-pump bottles of sanitizer throughout Victoria General Hospital and other facilities.
Masterson said the company is trying to ensure products are distributed equitably amongst customers.
