I have been meaning to write about the Newman's ventilator which has fascinated me to no end.
At a time when the cost of ventilators were not less than five lakh of rupees,our then executive dirctor introduced us to this quiet ,unpretentious anaesthetist from some part of Maharastra who had assembled this piece of machine,that would cost just Rs 60,000 and would save countless lives in a rural set-up.
Taking our ED's word for it, but with some reservations which I did not express at that time, we bought the machine and planted it in our low-cost ACU.
The machine could not be more basic,and yet over the years I marvel when I look back at the countless lives that have been saved by it.
Each time a patient with respiratory paralysis walks out of the hospital in one piece,and believe me there are hordes of them,I bless the man,I don't remember his name but I remember his offer,'if the machine conks off,just let us know we will replace it with a new one'.It's six years since,it is still going strong without a single break-down and it is the only ventilator we have!
At a time when the cost of ventilators were not less than five lakh of rupees,our then executive dirctor introduced us to this quiet ,unpretentious anaesthetist from some part of Maharastra who had assembled this piece of machine,that would cost just Rs 60,000 and would save countless lives in a rural set-up.
Taking our ED's word for it, but with some reservations which I did not express at that time, we bought the machine and planted it in our low-cost ACU.
The machine could not be more basic,and yet over the years I marvel when I look back at the countless lives that have been saved by it.
Each time a patient with respiratory paralysis walks out of the hospital in one piece,and believe me there are hordes of them,I bless the man,I don't remember his name but I remember his offer,'if the machine conks off,just let us know we will replace it with a new one'.It's six years since,it is still going strong without a single break-down and it is the only ventilator we have!
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