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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Canada urgently needed ventilators, but international and domestic supplies were limited. Potential proposals for manufacturing ventilators were identified through a call to action, including proposals that came in through National Research Council Canada and the Next Generation Manufacturing Supercluster. Organizations that stepped forward to offer their help were sent a set of common questions to assess their ability to quickly and effectively manufacture the life-saving machines for Canadians.
In order to identify companies with the best potential to meet Canada's needs, officials from Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, National Research Council Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada quickly came together to identify experts and set up an independent external panel to review proposals. This panel consisted of biomechanical engineers, respiratory therapists, medical practitioners, physicians, and manufacturing and supply chain expertsFootnote 1. The expert review panel assessed each proposal based on a series of criteria that included the proven history of the ventilator model and the strength of the manufacturing plan.
Through this process, CAE Inc., Starfish Medical, Ventilators for Canadians and Vexos have joined the effort, along with Thornhill Medical, to supply the federal government with made in Canada ventilators.