“We had waited long for the much-needed ventilators. In the past, we had been told that funds would be allocated for the purpose, but this time things have moved at a faster pace,” said Dr D B Kadam, HOD, Medicine, Sassoon. “Within a month of allocation of Rs 1 crore by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to upgrade hospital’s infrastructure to fight H1N1 influenza, the ventilators have been installed.”

A ventilator is a machine designed to mechanically move breathable air into and out of the lungs of a patient who is physically unable to breathe or is breathing insufficiently.