Shortage of ventilators posing risks to saving lives in hospitals across Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: While ventilators are considered the last resort to keep the patient alive and continue efforts for his recovery, the shortage of ventilators has emerged as a major hindrance in saving lives across the federal capital. A ventilator is a medical device which helps a patient breathe by pumping air in and sucking it out of their lungs. It also monitors most of the body functions and keeps the patient alive. It is mostly used in intensive care units (ICUs). Officials of both Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic Hospital reported that nearly all of the ventilators at their medical facilities were occupied most of the time. Pims Executive Director Dr Rana Imran…