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Gas companies took action during COVID-19. Now they must expand access to medical oxygen over the long term.
18 April 2023
CEO Jayasree K. Iyer to speak on the role of partnerships in expanding access to medical oxygen
The Access to Medicine Foundation’s CEO, Jayasree K. Iyer, will speak at an event convened by the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO₂AL) in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations in Geneva. Held on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), the event will focus on ways to strengthen national oxygen systems and sustain long-term investment in access to medical oxygen.
Date
19 May 2026
Location
Geneva, Switzerland
Medical oxygen is crucial for the treatment of a range of conditions – but access in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is scarce. This event, titled “Access to oxygen: Catalysing country impact through partnerships,” marks three years since the launch of GO₂AL and the adoption of the WHA resolution on improving access to medical oxygen. While important progress has been made, particularly through country leadership, significant work remains to embed oxygen systems within resilient, nationally-owned health systems.
Access to Medicine Foundation CEO Jayasree K. Iyer will deliver a keynote address centred on the Foundation’s work on advancing access to medical oxygen through industry collaboration. Drawing on insights from the Foundation’s Medical Oxygen Community of Practice (CoP), she will highlight why partnerships with oxygen manufacturers are essential and share practical examples of how collaboration can help address persistent access gaps in LMICs.
About the Medical Oxygen Community of Practice
Launched by the Foundation in 2025, the Medical Oxygen CoP brings together oxygen companies, GO₂AL members and other key stakeholders to exchange best practices, strengthen partnerships and co-create solutions to improve sustainable access to medical oxygen. Through a series of virtual and in-person roundtables, the CoP is helping identify concrete actions that industry and partners can take to support stronger systems for medical oxygen over the long term.
About the 79th World Health Assembly
The Foundation’s participation at this event forms part of a broader programme of engagement during this year’s World Health Assembly, taking place 18-23 May.
