Jayasree K. Iyer returns to annual World Health Summit to discuss gaps in access to medical oxygen and other priority global health issues

Medical oxygen is essential for treating a host of health conditions and diseases, yet is still not reliably available in many low- and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to this longstanding problem, but the effort to create more sustainable global access is ongoing.

Under the Summit’s theme, “Building Trust for a Healthier World,” Jay will moderate a session entitled “Securing Equitable Medical Oxygen Access: The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security”.

The session will cover key findings from the Commission, for which Jayasree serves as an advisor, and will preview some of its key findings and recommendations for addressing gaps in access to medical oxygen. Speakers will include: 

• Dr Hamish Graham, University of Melbourne, Associate Professor of International Child Health 

• Dr Jean Kaseya, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Director-General 

• Zoë Mullan, The Lancet Global Health, Editor-in-Chief 

• Maurine Murenga, Lean on Me Foundation, Founder 

• The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Board Member of the Communities Delegation 

• Prof Dr Stefan Swartling Peterson, Karolinska Institutet, Professor of Global Transformations for Health

• Ms Adriana Velazquez Berumen, Team Lead, Medical Devices and Invitro Diagnostics, World Health Organization, Geneva

• Mr Louis-François Richard, Group Vice-President Sustainability, Air Liquide Foundation President

The Summit’s other programmes and central topics will include the effort to mitigate antimicrobial resistance, financing issues with global health initiatives, women and children’s health, climate change and other topics under the umbrella of One Health.

About the World Health Summit 

The World Health Summit (WHS) is one of the world's leading global health conferences. The 2024 WHS will take place from 13-15 October, bringing stakeholders from stakeholders from all sectors and regions together in Berlin, Germany. Held under the theme “Building Trust for a Healthier World”, the forum will set this year’s agenda for working toward priority global health goals.

About the Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security 

The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security was launched in September 2022 to identify and address major evidence gaps related to measuring the need for medical oxygen and find solutions to improve gaps in access. Twenty commissioners oversee the Commission’s work, and 40 advisors provide guidance to the commissioners. It plans to publish a commission report in 2025.