Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assured full government support for the testing, quality validation and commercial production of locally developed ventilators and high-flow oxygen machines, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing healthcare through research and innovation.
He made the assurance during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
The Prime Minister said the government is giving the highest priority to research and innovation in the healthcare sector and would provide all necessary support for testing, quality verification and commercial production of the two indigenous medical devices.
He highly appreciated the efforts of the experts and researchers who developed the ventilator and the high-flow oxygen machine using local technology, and assured them of all possible assistance to make the devices ready for practical use and commercialization.
During the meeting, experts presented the effectiveness, future prospects and development plans for the two medical devices.
Officials informed the meeting that the ventilator and the high-flow oxygen machine had been developed by two separate teams of specialists. They said the devices could be introduced in hospitals across the country after obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and completing clinical trials, while also offering export potential in international markets.
According to officials, local manufacturing would significantly reduce production costs, making advanced healthcare technologies more affordable and accessible for patients. They also noted that successful production and widespread use of the devices would reduce Bangladesh’s dependence on imported medical equipment.
The ventilator has been developed to provide life-saving respiratory support for critically ill patients and will undergo further testing and evaluation to ensure its safety, effectiveness and compliance with international standards.
The high-flow oxygen machine is designed for patients with common respiratory complications. One of its key features is its ability to operate without electricity, making it suitable for use in remote areas with limited power supply as well as in ambulances during emergency patient transportation.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, State Minister Dr M A Muhit, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Affairs Dr S M Ziauddin Hyder, Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, BUET Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Shariful Islam, Prime Minister’s Office Physician Associate Professor Dr Shah Muhammad Aman Ullah, Prime Minister’s Assistant Private Secretary-1 Dr Mamun Shibly and other officials concerned attended the meeting.
