Red tape is preventing local company from churning out ventilators – Iain Ambler

The search for ventilators that have become such a scarce commodity during the coronavirus pandemic, as they are critically important for patients who land in intensive care units with breathing problems, has been described as ‘a hunt for a dodo’. Anaesthetists in South Africa have recently been informed that their ventilators may be needed when Covid-19 reaches a peak so there is clearly a shortage in South Africa as well. It has prompted a mechatronic company, Clifford Welding who have made ventilators in the past but stopped production because they refused to pay bribes to corrupt officials, to improve their initial design and software, and come up with an updated version of their original product. But despite help from ANC officials and the Industrial Development Corporation; they have run into red tape with delays at Customs at OR Tambo Airport and say there does not seem to be a rush from state departments to order units. The Managing Director of Clifford Welding, Iain Ambler told Alec Hogg they have had interest from overseas, but not much locally. – Linda van Tilburg