VENTILATORS TO BE MADE AT AUTO FIRMS
To combat the fastspreading coronavirus in the country, Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s biggest utility vehicle maker, is all set to manufacture sophisticated ventilators at just `7,500 apiece, which otherwise costs up to `10 lakh. The Centre has also urged other automakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hyundai to look at ways to manufacture ventilators and other medical gear expeditiously to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a communication to major automobile manufacturers, the ministry of heavy industries asked them to explore using their manufacturing facilities and manpower to produce ventilators.
This communication was issued after a joint meeting of the top four companies — Maruti Suzuki, M&M, Tata Motors and Hyundai — on Wednesday, automobile sources said.
To combat fast spreading coronavirus, Mahindra & Mahindra is all set to make a functional ventilator at just Rs 7,500, which otherwise costs up to Rs 10 lakh. The central government has also urged other automakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hyundai to look at ways to manufacture ventilators and other medical gear expeditiously to fight the pandemic.
N. Chandrashekharan, chairman at Tata Sons, said Tata Group is looking at setting up a plant to manufacture ventilators. "We are working on this on priority," he said.
A ventilator is a mechanical breathing device that can blow air and oxygen into the lungs. India imports around 80-85 per cent of all medical devices for intensive care units, including ventilators.
A study by Brookings Institution says with rising cases, India will need
110,000-220,000 ventilators by May 15 against roughly
57,000 units it now has. M&M is believed to be in the final stage of discussions with Benaglurubased ventilator exporter Skanray Technologies.
Tata Group, through Tata Motors, is also in final negotiations with a Mysuru-based unit to ramp up production.
M&M said it hopes to have a prototype of an automated version of bag valve mask ventilator, known as Ambu bag, in three days for approval.
"We are simultaneously working with an indigenous maker of ICU ventilators. These are sophisticated machines costing between Rs 5 to 10 lakh. This device is an interim lifesaver & the team estimates it will cost below Rs 7,500," Anand Mahindra, group chairman at M&M, tweeted.
Earlier, Pawan Goenka, MD, said M&M is also working with two large PSUs and an existing manufacturer of high specification ventilators to help them simplify design and scale up capacity.
"The government approached us about the possibility of making ventilators in-house. We are considering it seriously and a number of our teams are looking at the possibility," R. C. Bhargava, chairman at Maruti Suzuki, told Financial Chronicle.
He said, the company would come up with an answer in a day or two. "We have very limited time," pointing out that there is a shortage of ventilators the world over now.