Saudi Arabia launches the first locally produced ventilator to serve the ICU
In collaboration with Medtronic Saudi Arabia, the top worldwide provider of healthcare technology, the first locally made ventilator for the intensive care unit (ICU) was unveiled in a unique event on Tuesday.
Al-Rowad Technical Systems Company attended the event to support and facilitate collaborations between the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority.
The inauguration was attended by the Minister of Investment, Engineer Khaled Al-Falih, and the Deputy Minister of Health Eng. Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih.
The partnership aims to transfer technological progress and contribute to supporting the local health system to enable the manufacture of medical devices locally in the Kingdom.
It also aims to create many job opportunities in the private sector.
It is looking forward to producing an advanced generation of ventilators for intensive care locally.
Introducing the Puritan Bennett 980, the first homemade respirator for intensive care units and critical cases.
This device helps patients breathe normally through its safe and smart design, which provides support and comfort for intensive care patients and a high degree of safety.
The partnership between the two companies contributed to the production of 1,200 devices annually, with a localization rate of 46% in less than two years.
The Ministry of Investment supports and enables partnerships and works to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in developing local competencies and the national economy.
The National Supply Chain Initiative also aims to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a regional and global destination to attract foreign and national investments.
At the opening of the World Health Forum held last October, the Saudi Minister of Health, Eng. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, revealed that the number of partnership projects with the private sector in health services planned over the next five years exceeds one hundred, with estimated capital investment opportunities in them totaling SAR 48 billion.
The Minister of Health emphasized the announced initiatives represented in several public-private partnerships, including the establishment and operation of two medical cities in the Kingdom’s north and south, as well as the establishment and operation of 900 beds to provide medical rehabilitation and long-term care services.
In addition to restructuring and improving primary health care services, beginning with more than 200 centers, and providing air medical transport services at the Kingdom level, there is a partnership for radiology services.
He stated at the start of the World Health Forum and the accompanying exhibition that the ministry has comprehensively developed the procedures for issuing licenses and related regulations to support commercial activities and ease the investor’s journey in the health sector.
The Ministry of Health has also established a call center to provide services to the business sector, noting that one of Vision 2030’s main goals is to localize the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
