Deployment of ventilators to developing countries: A critical review in light of the Covid-19 crisis: A report for the national Covid-19 scientific taskforce and the executive board of ETH Zurich

Abstract

As part of ETH Zurich’s pursuit to contribute to resolving the global corona crisis, we evaluate in this report whether it is reasonable to increase ventilation capacities in countries with resource-limited clinical infrastructure and how the pathway for the industrialization of a minimal-function ventilator in Switzerland could look like. The intention of this work is to establish a decision basis for the Executive Board of the ETH Zurich whether a Swiss contribution to ventilator supply in countries with limited clinical infrastructure should be further considered and implemented.