Ventilators from Taiwan delivered to Prague hospitals

The Czech Republic received 25 ventilators from Taiwan to help patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus. The ventilators and other medical equipment is a donation based on Prague’s partnership agreement with Taiwan’s capital Taipei.

Nine ventilators are intended exclusively for Prague hospitals. Three will go to the Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady (FNKV) and three units each to the Motol Teaching Hospital and Na Bulovce Hospital.

“Taiwanese ventilators will save lives in hospitals in Prague! Today we handed over three units of Pneupac VR1 fans to the director of the Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Petr Arenberger. The Czech Republic received a total of 25 ventilators from Taiwan,” Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) said in Twitter.

Mayor Hřib ceremonially handed over the Pneupac VR1 ventilators to FNKV director Petr Arenberger on April 8. They will be used in the department for COVID-19 patients with the need for pulmonary ventilation.

In the coming week, 360 replacement filters, 100 inhalers and 207 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) face masks will be delivered especially for Prague. This part of the donation is currently in Germany.

“I greatly appreciate donated aid from Taiwan based on a joint Czech-Taiwanese partnership in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic. Taiwan manages to fight the disease and is a great inspiration. From the outset, it has warned the World Health Organization about the severity of this threat, while mainland China withheld information and secretly purchased medical supplies abroad,” Mayor Hřib said.

FNKV director Arenberger welcomed the aid. “At the time of the expected increase in COVID-19 patients who will require respiratory assistance, each ventilator is worth gold. Therefore, we were pleased by the gift from Mayor Hřib, who ensured the extension of our ventilated beds with three more devices. We thank the Prague City Hall on behalf of our patients,” Arenberger said.

The Pneupac VR1 has been designed as a ventilator / resuscitator for medical staff in hospitals and ambulances. It is also intended for fire and police services or for use in industrial and commercial markets. It can handle work in demanding conditions, has automatic and manual control and quiet operation.