The KN 95 mask was relatively unknown to most people around the world just a few months ago. However, it has now become an essential part of life due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
In order to cater to the spike in demand for high-spec respirators, Bangladesh is ready to begin local manufacturing of KN95 standard masks. JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Ltd, a sister concern of the JMI Group, has already completed successful test runs.
The KN 95 standard masks have been prepared and handed over to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for testing and final approval.
The local medical equipment maker JMI recently gotsome flak for supplying normal masks in boxes labeled N95, but both the procurement office of the Bangladesh Health Department and the company itself have claimed the incident was the result of a mistake. A three-member committee was formed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to investigate the issue.
JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Ltd has installed new lines that can manufacture 40,000 KN95 standard masks per day. The company’s Managing Director Md Abdur Razzaq told Dhaka Tribune the firm began setting up mask manufacturing lines in collaboration with the Chinese company Liz Fashion after the outbreak of coronavirus near the beginning of the year.
“After getting approval, we will begin commercial manufacturing of KN95 standard masks under the Chinese guidelines on standards called GB 2626-2006,” Razzaq added.
He also said JMI had been producing surgical masks and gloves for over a decade.
Liz representative and Quality Assurance Manager Charlie Yuan told Dhaka Tribune the jointly-developed KN95 standard mask, called the JMI Respirator, included a special extra layer in addition to the mandatory four.
“This ensures it can satisfy the stringent requirements of any market,” she added.
DGDA Director and spokesperson Md Ruhul Amin said: “After proper test reports from certified labs, the authorities will inspect the manufacturing plant. If everything is found to be satisfactory, the company will be given marketing approval.”
The government on April 29 enlisted five ISO-17025 accredited private sector labs to test locally-manufactured graded gowns, masks and personal protective equipment (PPE). The labs are SGS Bangladesh, ITS Labtest Bangladesh, Dysin International, ULVS Bangladesh, and TUV SUD Bangladesh Private Ltd.
Currently, imported masks of KN95 standards are sold in the country for around Tk300 per mask. JMI says its model will cost only Tk150-160 to make.
JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Ltd plans to raise Tk75 crore from the capital market through initial public offering (IPO) under the book building method. The company will utilize the funds for the construction of factory buildings, plants, buying machinery and land, and repaying bank loans.
The JMI Group, in partnership with the Japanese medical equipment multinational NIPRO, pioneered the manufacture of medical accessories in Bangladesh.