DGDA permits production of BUET's OxyJet CPAP on limited scale

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has approved the production and use of the locally developed cost-effective portable ventilator, named OxyJet CPAP, on limited scale.

Md Ayub Hossain, director and spokesperson of DGDA, confirmed the development today.

"Yes, permission has been given. However, I have not received the official order yet," Md Ayub Hossain told our correspondent.

According to DGDA officials, it has permitted the production of 200 OxyJet devices to use in hospitals, which is only for trial purpose.

DGDA will decide on final approval of the device, designed to help patients with severe Covid-19, based on the trial results, they said.

"As per condition of the health directorate, we will run the trial in hospitals with central oxygen supply system. Its future depends on the success of the 200 units during the trial. We hope we will be successful," said Dr Taufiq Hasan, the supervisor of the project and a co-inventor.

Amidst the ongoing countrywide strain on the supply of medical oxygen, researchers at Buet's Department of Biomedical Engineering developed this non-invasive device that can be used without electricity, by simply being connected to an oxygen cylinder or medical oxygen supply.

This device can be used in remote villages or ambulances -- wherever it is possible to carry cylinders -- as an alternative to the high-flow nasal cannula support.

According to the developer, this ventilator will also be cost-effective, as it can be produced at Tk 25,000 now, and will require an even lower cost once it goes into commercial production.

Earlier, it has been field-tested and approved for clinical trials.