Basic role of medical ventilators to lower COVID-19 fatality and face next pandemic crises

Mario COCCIA — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract. In the presence of global pandemic crisis of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), although some countries have experienced high levels of infections, they have lower numbers of COVID-19 related deaths. Why? This exploratory research here analyzes the vital role of technological innovation of medical ventilators to cope with the initial stage of COVID-19 pandemic without specific pharmaceutical treatments (drugs and vaccines). Results suggest that countries having a high number of medical ventilators (26.76 per 100,000 inhabitants) have in general a fatality rate lower (1.44% in December 2020) than countries with low average number of medical ventilators (10.38 per 100,000) that have a high fatality rate of 2.46% in the same period. These findings bring us to suggest a technology -oriented strategy of preparedness to cope with future pandemic threats based on high levels of R&D investments in healthcare sectors with new infrastructures, skilled human resources and especially modern technologies of high-tech medical ventilators that can reduce negative effects of emerging infectious diseases when specific drugs and treatments lack.

Keywords. COVID-19 pandemic; Coronavirus Disease 2019, Artificial ventilation; Mechanical ventilation, Noninvasive ventilation, New technology; Crisis management; Pandemic preparedness; Hospital Ventilators; Health emergencies.

JEL. H12; H51; I10; O14; O32; O33.

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EconSciences — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

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Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences

Basic role of medical ventilators to lower COVID-19 fatality and face next pandemic crises

Front Matter