The ventilators will help the stressed healthcare system both in the short and the long term
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) “i-Live” ventilator has become the first indigenously built product that has received the go ahead by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for use in hospitals. The approval will certainly help the healthcare system with more ventilators being inducted during the third wave of Coronavirus.
PAEC spokesperson Shahid Riaz Khan said the ventilator after the approval will be manufactured and supplied by PAEC to hospitals in the country. “This is a giant leap towards self-reliance in designing and manufacturing of life-saving equipment,” he added.
Clinical trials were conducted at Jinnah Hospital in Lahore under the supervision of senior doctors, biomedical engineers, and medical researchers. “The ventilator successfully passed all stages of engineering evaluation and medical validation,” the statement read.
PAEC chairman joyous
PAEC Chairman Mohammad Naeem felicitated the scientists, engineers, and doctors who took part in the ventilator’s development and hoped that the ventilators will help in meeting the growing demand. “Massive production of i-Live would be commenced immediately to meet the growing demand of hospitals for this crucial equipment in the context of ongoing corona pandemic,” the chairman said.
Chaudhary applauds efforts
Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry congratulated PAEC for developing the “#MadeInPakistan” ventilator.
“Pakistan’s success in developing international-level medical equipment in the last two years is worth appreciating. I want to congratulate engineers, technicians and the entire team. You have raised our heads with pride,” he tweeted.
Need of the hour
The development of ventilators at home will have an excellent positive impact on the overall healthcare sector. While in the short term, these ventilators will help patients with coronavirus, they will be useful for all kinds of patients in the longer run. Being locally manufactured, one can expect them to cost less and help the country save precious foreign exchange.