ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said his ministry will expedite the registration of ventilators with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) to ensure their timely availability for induction in the healthcare system and export.

He stated this while chairing a meeting held to discuss efforts being made to counter the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

During the meeting, an update on Pakistan-manufactured ventilators system (PMVS) and innovative products developed with facilitation and coordination of the science ministry was presented to the minister.

Mr Faraz said medical devices manufactured in Pakistan, including ventilators, should conform to the international standards and quality.

The participants were informed that out of the initial 57 ventilator designs only 16 could meet the requirements of ICU ventilators as per Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) defined by Drap.

Currently, 2x ventilators, Pak Vent-1 (developed by Nescom) and I-live Vent (developed by PAEC) have been cleared by the Pakistan engineering Council PEC and are under clinical validation by Drap. If approved, 50 ventilators could be available in two months.

Moreover, Alnnovent developed by Alsons Group Karachi was cleared by PEC and its application for National Bioethics Committee (NBC) was under process for clinical validation study and if completed on time 10 ventilators would be available in a month.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2021