With the escalating number of confirmed cases for Coronavirus, the sheer number of facilities have greatly depleted all around the world; especially in the number of ventilators as well. Recently, Pakistan Against COVID19-Volunteers (PAC-V), a group formed during the start of the pandemic, is using 3D printing to manufacture the necessary medical and safety equipment, which primarily includes ventilators.
Pakistan Against COVID19- Volunteers is a group which aims to produce affordable ventilators, respiratory valves locally at a large scale. One of the major benefits of this endeavour is that it produces products at a large scale but in a short time. The 3D printing process builds a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided design model by adding material layer by layer. According to the lead of the initiative, Dr Bilal Siddiqui said: “Our first 3D ventilator prototype will be ready for testing in 10 days. And it could be out within a fortnight… We are also 3D printing a splitter which would allow medics to use one vent to ventilate up to four patients”.
It has also been reported that the Pakistan Air Force has already offered to field-test this splitter. They are also developing a non-contact thermometer to check temperatures of coronavirus patients as well. Their non-contact thermometer will also be much more affordable and is sent to the Punjab Health Department for field testing. This group has also locally designed hazmat suits, facemasks and face shields to protect those who come in contact with COVID-19 patients, especially healthcare providers.
PAC-V comprises of doctors, biomedical professionals, engineers, academics, diaspora, resource mobilisers and other groups. According to Dr Siddiqui, he said that: “It started off as a group of five volunteers five days ago, but now its membership is in hundreds… We started field activity with a meager amount of Rs10,000, but within two nights Rs300,000 were pitched in”. He added on by stating: “We got in touch with doctors at top hospitals in Pakistan, including Aga Khan Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital and Indus Hospital in Karachi and Shifa International in Islamabad before launching the initiative”.
Dr Siddiqui also spoke that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and various universities have shown interest in this initiative. These equipment will be deployed once they are tested and approved for medical use.
