Nearly 2,000 drug plants are overdue for FDA checks after COVID delays, AP finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health inspectors are still struggling to address a massive backlog of pharmaceutical plants that went uninspected during disruptions caused by COVID-19. That’s according to an analysis of government data by the Associated Press. The data shows roughly 2,000 drug manufacturing sites around the world have not had a Food and Drug Administration inspection for quality since before the pandemic. The FDA considers plants that have gone more than five years without an inspection to be a significant risk. Agency officials say their work has been hampered by difficulties recruiting and retaining inspectors, who face a grueling schedule of overseas travel.