Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero announced April 15 that local home-appliance manufacturing giant Haceb and local motorcycle assembler Auteco will launch manufacture and assembly of novel Coronavirus ventilator machines -- starting Monday, April 20.

Three prototypes have been developed in Medellin via a research and technology consortium organized by tech incubator Ruta N and Colombia’s national industrial-commercial trade association ANDI.

Coronavirus ventilators on the global market have been quoted as costing more than COP$150 million (US$38,000), the Mayor noted. But the locally produced ventilators are expected to cost a small fraction of that -- perhaps in the range of US$1,000 to US$2,000.

“The three prototypes, which are part of the '#InnspiraMED' project, were independently developed by Sampedro Medical Industries, the University of Antioquia and the EIA University, meeting all Invima [Colombia medical products regulator] quality and safety standards,” according to the Mayor’s office.

“This is going to allow us to save lives -- not just for Medellín and Antioquia, but for all of Colombia,” Quintero added.

In his April 15 announcement, the Mayor didn't specify exactly how many ventilators will be produced initially, the total expected forecast production, retail prices and commercial availability dates.