The resuscitation department of the Purpan hospital in Toulouse (illustration image). - FRED SCHEIBER / SIPA

Several thousand respirators ordered urgently by the state are unsuitable for patients affected by Covid-19 in intensive care, said Thursday an investigation by the investigative cell of Radio France. Questions immediately contested by the government.

This investigation by the Radio France investigation cell states that 8,500 of the 10,000 devices ordered by the state are not suitable for resuscitation of patients affected by Covid-19. These 8,500 devices, Osiris models, are "respirators intended to manage the emergency", according to this survey. This respirator is "a device that is used in ambulances, but not in resuscitation rooms". "It is therefore likely that the Osiris, at least initially, will be used for something other than treating patients with Covid-19," said the survey.

It is time for everyone to mobilize to save lives, while more than 5,000 patients are still in intensive care. Not vain and unwelcome controversies. The 10,000 respirators ordered from Air Liquide can be used. Details 👇 pic.twitter.com/dzrrYjsFK6

- Olivier VĂ©ran (@olivierveran) April 23, 2020

Two kinds of respirators

The government strongly disputed these claims. "The order placed with Air Liquide was at a time when the number of patients admitted to intensive care continued to grow very rapidly, and when it appeared absolutely necessary to secure the capacity to arm a much larger number of intensive care beds" , explain in a press release the offices of the Secretary of State for the Economy Agnès Pannier-Runacher and the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.

They recall that the order for 10,000 respirators includes 1,500 devices of the Monal T60 model, "today widely used in French and international hospitals" for patients with Covid-19. It also includes 8,500 Osiris-type respirators, "emergency and transport respirators" which benefit "from all the certifications useful by health agencies".

30,000 respirators in France in June

The use of Osiris machines "in the event of unavailability of heavier respirators and as a last resort had been validated by the two French resuscitation societies", indicates the ministerial press release. The government sees it as a “choice of prudence and responsibility”.

At Air Liquide, leader of the respirator manufacturing consortium which also includes the PSA, Valeo and Schneider Electric groups, it is indicated that the Osiris is a known model and used for more than 20 years, sold in more than 12,000 copies, and perfectly suited to deal with the risk of overflowing care capacities.

"By the end of June, France should have 15,000 resuscitation ventilators and 15,000 other emergency and transport respirators, which is more than the needs expressed and anticipated," added the government statement, according to which "Now is not the time for controversy over the alleged excess of means committed by the government to protect the French."

Health

Coronavirus: All about MakAir, this low-cost respirator created "in start-up mode"

Society

Coronavirus: Decathlon withdraws its “Easybreath” masks from sale to offer them to caregivers

  • Coronavirus
  • Covid 19
  • epidemic
  • Society
  • Health
  • Hospital