Taipei, June 13 (CNA) Taiwanese entertainer Jia Yong-jie said Sunday that she has raised enough money to buy 330 high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) machines, an oxygen supply system used in hospitals, adding that distribution of the devices started the previous day.

The delivery is expected to help public hospitals most as they generally have to go through time-consuming procurement procedures before acquiring such devices, she said.

HFNCs, which cost NT$270,000 (US$9,757) per unit, are highly-prized by hospitals because they can be used as an alternative to ventilators with even better performance, according to health workers.

The device not only allows awake prone positioning for patients suffering breathing difficulties but also allows them to eat without help, thereby reducing the chance of infections for carers.

Tan Che-Kim , a doctor who works in the Intensive Care Unit at Chi Mei Hospital, said HFNC can also help avoid intubation for patients and improve case survival rates.

Jia said she first learned about the demand for HFNCs on June 10 from a relative of a medical worker, and was told there is much demand for the device even at National Taiwan University Hospital, the most prestigious hospital in Taiwan.

Jia said she immediately got in touch with the manufacturer and together with her husband purchased 15 to donate to local hospitals.

"(We are) racing against time under current circumstances," she said.

Jia also encouraged her friends in business circles to work with her to raise funds, quickly raising enough to purchase an additional 237 HFNCs.