Dhaman-1 ventilator extremely useful in early stages of COVID-19: Dr M M Prabhakar

After Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel launched an indigenous ventilator called Dhaman-1 for the treatment of coronavirus, a controversy had erupted over its capability. However, civil hospital superintendent Dr M M Prabhakar clarified that both the indigenous ventilator Dhaman-1 and the high-end modern ventilator are useful in the treatment of COVID-19.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat): A Rajkot company had manufactured an indigenous ventilator called Dhaman-1 for the treatment of coronavirus patients during the pandemic crisis. This was disclosed by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel at the civil hospital in Ahmedabad.

However, a controversy erupted recently when it was alleged that the ventilator was inoperative. After this, civil hospital superintendent Dr M M Prabhakar gave a clarification today.

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s officer on special duty Dr M M Prabhakar said that both the indigenous ventilator Dhaman-1 and the high-end modern ventilator are useful in the treatment of coronavirus patients.

Dhaman-1 is useful in the initial stage of treatment of coronavirus patient when the patient needs to be artificially given oxygen but when the patient’s condition becomes critical only then the high-end ventilator is needed.

Dr Prabhakar said the Dhaman-1 ventilator is still being used in the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Anaesthesia specialists and other doctors engaged in the treatment of coronavirus patients on Monday gave a demonstration of Dhaman-1 ventilator and explained its utility.

Civil Hospital has demanded high-end ventilators which are needed for the treatment of patients in critical condition.

The Dhaman-1 ventilator indigenously manufactured in Rajkot is basic which needs to be improved as suggested by the doctors of Ahmedabad. Dr Prabhakar said the manufacturer of Dhaman-1 will be adding compressor, mixture, humidifier and calibration equipment in the next phase.

Dr Prabhakar further said that there was an immediate need for ventilator following an increase in the number of coronavirus patients in the state. Under the situation, a private company of Rajkot had made this indigenous ventilator in just ten days which proved very useful.

Currently, Dhaman-1 ventilators are being used widely in the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. At the time when there is an acute shortage of ventilators in the world and in India, a Gujarat company had manufactured the indigenous ventilator, added Prabhakar.