Havana, July 12 (RHC)-- The first 500 Cuban-made pulmonary ventilators -- very useful in the treatment of critical and serious patients with COVID-19 -- will be ready by October.

The medical devices, produced entirely in the country, in addition to offering assisted ventilation, are capable of measuring oxygen and have a high range of support without electricity.

The project is being carried out at the Neuroscience Center in the Cuban capital with funds from the European Union and the non-governmental organization MediCuba-Switzerland.

After the first confirmed cases of COVID-19, the Cuban government tried to buy pulmonary ventilators from the Swiss companies IMT Medial AG and Acutronic, but last April these entities were acquired by the American company Vyaire Medical Inc.  The companies suspended their commercial relationship with the Caribbean nation as part of the pressures of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.