Poll shows most Floridians concerned about U.S. reliance on Chinese medical tech

Nearly three-quarters of Floridians say America relies too much on Chinese medical gear. More would vote for politicians that support cracking down on Chinese influence on U.S. health care.

That’s according to a poll commissioned by the Protecting America Initiative, which surveyed likely voters on issues related to China’s impact on U.S. medical services.

The survey found 72% of Florida voters believe the U.S. is “too dependent” on Chinese-made medical technologies. About 81% support stronger government action to reduce that reliance.

“Florida voters are sending a clear warning about America’s growing dependence on Chinese-made medical technology. They view it as a direct threat to both patient safety and national security,” a polling memo from the group reads.

Pollsters stressed the concern crosses party lines, and in fact, no-party voters hold the highest level of concern among respondents.

“It crosses party lines and unites voters around a shared sense that the United States has become far too vulnerable to foreign control in one of its most sensitive sectors: healthcare,” the memo reads.

“Floridians want decisive action from policymakers to address their concern. They believe the government should secure hospital networks, invest in domestic manufacturing, and ensure that medical technology used in the United States comes from trusted sources. They also express a clear political preference for candidates who are willing to take a firm stance on protecting patient data and ensuring safe, reliable medical care.”

Specifically, the poll found 76% of voters were concerned to learn that 15% of advanced devices like MRI machines are imported from China. About 80% of voters were alarmed to hear U.S. hospitals are obliged to follow directives from manufacturers, like transmitting data back to the east. About 77% of voters have privacy concerns related to Chinese medical products.

The poll included responses from 600 likely General Election voters and was conducted Oct. 29 and 30. Pollsters report a 4-percentage-point margin of error.

The concern about a reliance on Chinese products in U.S. medicine has been of growing concern to policymakers, especially since the pandemic. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, for example, has filed legislation on stockpiling U.S. medical equipment, and Gov. Ron DeSantis has made a push toward reshoring medical goods.