Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz was informed on Tuesday that out of an initial 57 ventilator designs, only 16 could meet the requirements of intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators as per Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) defined by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and the Pakistan Engineering Council.
A day earlier, Shibli expressed concern over the efficacy of the ventilators available in the country, saying that they “perform only four of the 16 functions”.
Chairing a meeting regarding efforts being made to counter the effects of the Covid pandemic on Tuesday, Shibli said, “The ministry is making all-out efforts for the timely registration of ventilators with Drap to ensure their availability and induction into the healthcare system.”
The officials of the ministry and PEC were in attendance.
During the meeting, an update on the Pakistan-Manufactured Ventilators System (PMVS) and innovative products developed with the facilitation and coordination of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST)/Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) was presented to the minister.
Currently, 2x ventilators, ie, Pak Vent-1 (developed by Nescom) and I-live Vent (developed by PAEC) are cleared by the PEC and with Drap for clinical validation. “These, if approved, can provide 50 ventilators in two months’ time.”
Moreover, Alnnovent developed by M/s Alsons Group Karachi is cleared by PEC and its application for National Bioethics Committee (NBC) is under process for clinical validation study and if completed in time, 10 ventilators would be available in a month.
NED Vent, N-Saviour, and NuVent are in final stages of evaluation with the PEC. All the above mentioned PMVS are ICU ventilators compatible with any international brand.
Safe Vent SF-100 Emergency ventilator manufactured under licence from Turkey is cleared by PEC and registered with Drap. Alnno Ventura CPAP HFNO and open source design of UCL Mercedes UK acquired by the PEC and assigned to five local industrial set ups is manufactured in Pakistan by M/s Alsons Group Karachi and approved by the PEC and registered with Drap.
Shibli appreciated the PEC’s efforts and all stakeholders in this regard and reiterated that MoST will make all-out efforts for the timely registration of ventilators with Drap so that “these ventilators are timely available for induction into the healthcare system and export”.
“Pakistan-manufactured medical devices, including ventilators, should conform to international standards and quality,” the minister directed the participants.
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