Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Thursday said that that the local companies across the country are now able to produce medical supplies, including thousands of sanitizers, testing kits and ventilators, as part of Country’s battle to increase desperately needed equipment in the fight against COVID-19.
Talking to a private news channel, Fawad assured that there would not be any further shortage of sanitizers in the country as hand sanitizer by PCSIR (Ministry of S&T) WHO approved standards is now available on mass level. He hoped that local engineers would succeed in making low-cost ventilator to fight COVID-19: He said Science ministry is improving its efficiency of health services by embracing advances in technology and investing more resources.
Ministry is committed for adopting new ideas and availing of similar experiences to establish their own response strategy, based on accumulated lessons and information, and will hopefully overcome this corona-virus crisis with greater strength and determination.’ He further explained that country had made these hand sanitizers as per World Health Organization standards and their cost is Rs 350 per 250ml bottle.
‘NUST has also made a testing kit for corona-virus so we are trying to get its commercial production started in the next few days and cost of these kits will be then reduced to Rs 800-1,000. Right now, private testing costs about Rs 8,000 so it will be cut down manifold. This will be a huge breakthrough,’
The Government of Pakistan is building a secure, domestic supply of needed items to protect frontline health workers as they fight this global pandemic, he added. Pakistan’s hidden potential to produce local ventilators, PPEs.
