Opinion: WHO oxygen resolution is an opportunity for medical gas sector

In the last few years, the global health community has been faced with the stark reality of a life-threatening issue for so many people living in low- and middle-income countries, or LMICs: A lack of access to medical oxygen. So what does the oxygen resolution recently passed at the 76th World Health Assembly mean for the gas companies that are largely responsible for producing the world’s supply of liquid medical oxygen?

Efforts by governments and other organizations to grapple with the global supply of medical oxygen have culminated in some momentous developments in 2023 — not least, the adoption of the landmark World Health Organization resolution in May to increase access to medical oxygen.

WHO’s resolution provides a clear set of specific actions that WHO member states and WHO director-general can take to effect change. Also in May, the Global Oxygen Alliance, orGO2AL, was launched as the successor to the ACT-A Oxygen Emergency Taskforce set up during COVID-19. This new coalition aims to provide sustained support to fill gaps in the supply of medical oxygen in LMICs. These two developments demonstrate that access to oxygen is starting to be recognized as a chronic, structural global health issue that demands sustainable, long-term solutions.

Companies must be part of these solutions. While  WHO’s resolution does not directly address gas companies, what it does do is provide them with significant opportunities to strengthen their initiatives to expand access to medical oxygen by anticipating local governments’ actions and proactively utilizing the call on member states to address challenges.

Read the full op-ed on the Devex website.