The challenge for reliable medical oxygen

In an article for Gas World, Dominic Ellis and Anthony Wright write about the challenges associated with expanding access to medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries, mentioning the Access to Medicine Foundation’s work to close gaps in this area.

The article dives into the intricate challenges associated with improving access to medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which relate not only to supply, but also to infrastructure.

Steffi Van Uytfanghe, company engagement officer at the Foundation, is quoted: “You might have oxygen on a hospital site, but if you don’t have a medical gas pipeline system, or if the piping is old or doesn’t reach every ward, they can’t actually get the oxygen to the bedsides of the patient.

The article touches on other barriers to access, such as global conflicts, which can disrupt supply chains and prolong repairs to infrastructure and equipment, delaying healthcare delivery.

It notes that the Access to Medicine Foundation has been supporting work on medical oxygen access in Uganda, Senegal and South Africa on behalf of the Global Oxygen Alliance.

Steffi mentions that engagement between the oxygen industry, governments and regulatory agencies has improved in recent years, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought access gaps into the spotlight, while acknowledging that there is still much progress that needs to be made to guarantee reliable access in LMICs.