Joint media release with Minister for Health the Hon Greg Hunt MP
More than 3000 ventilators have been delivered to the Federal Government from Australian manufacturing company ResMed to assist in the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This represents more than half of the 5500 ventilators purchased from ResMed by the Federal Government for the COVID-19 Stockpile.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the delivery from ResMed follows extensive work across Government.
“The Government has been working hard to secure supply and increase the domestic manufacture of ventilators as we respond to the COVID-19 crisis,” Minister Andrews said.
“ResMed is a wonderful Aussie manufacturer that has stepped up in these unprecedented times to ramp up its production of ventilators.
“ResMed is a terrific example of the incredible manufacturing capacity that Australia has right here at home and shows how Aussie ingenuity can save lives.”
The Government has purchased 500 ‘Astral’ invasive ventilators and 5000 ‘Lumis’ non-invasive ventilators from ResMed. So far 260 ‘Astral’ invasive ventilators and 3000 ‘Lumis’ non-invasive ventilators have been produced and delivered.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the more than 3000 ventilators delivered by ResMed with 2500 more to come, builds on the 4400 existing units in Australia and a further 2000 being manufactured by Grey Innovation – another Aussie company – and its consortium of local manufacturers and engineering firms.
“We have been working closely with ResMed, and across Government to establish procedures to use the company’s non-invasive ventilators within the care continuum for COVID 19 patients,” Minister Hunt said.
“These additional ventilators will help to ensure we have sufficient supplies to meet the increased demand we expect in coming months.”
“Our national aim over the next few months is simple, suppress the virus, increase our testing and tracing, and slowly ease the restrictions,” Minister Hunt said.
ResMed President and COO Rob Douglas said ResMed is proud to support the Australian Government in their efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will continue to work with the Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, as well as with suppliers and governments from around the world, in a strong public-private partnership to support health care workers in their valiant efforts to save lives,” Mr Douglas said.
