Source: The post Global Health Leaders Must Act to Ensure Oxygen Access has been created, based on the article “A medical oxygen access gap SE Asia must bridge” published in “The Hindu” on 24 May 2025. Global Health Leaders Must Act to Ensure Oxygen Access.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Context: Access to medical oxygen is a critical global health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious infrastructure gaps. Despite short-term emergency measures, long-term access remains inadequate. The WHO and The Lancet Commission urge immediate and collective action to close the oxygen gap.
Scale and Urgency of the Oxygen Crisis
- Widespread global deficiency: Five billion people lack access to quality medical oxygen. The oxygen service coverage gap is 78% in South Asia and 74% in East Asia-Pacific, reflecting severe unmet demand. COVID-19 as a Wake-Up Call
- COVID-19 as a Wake-Up Call: The pandemic revealed systemic vulnerabilities. Emergency steps were taken, but lasting progress is still insufficient to meet ongoing needs.
- Available roadmap for action: WHO’s Access to Medical Oxygen Resolution and The Lancet Commission provide clear policy directions, but their success depends on prompt, coordinated implementation.
Key Barriers to Oxygen Access
- Shortage of equipment and monitoring tools: Only 54% of LMIC hospitals have pulse oximeters, and just 58% have oxygen access. This causes treatment delays and preventable deaths, especially in respiratory emergencies.
- High financial burden: Bridging the global oxygen gap needs $6.8 billion, with South Asia requiring $2.6 billion. Limited budgets and competing health priorities make large-scale investment difficult.
- Workforce limitations:There is an acute shortage of trained biomedical engineers and technicians. Even when equipment is available, lack of expertise leads to frequent breakdowns, worsening rural access.
Need for Long-Term Investment and Innovation
- Governance and monitoring tools: The WHO Medical Oxygen Scorecard supports transparent, data-based tracking. Countries must report progress by 2026, 2028, and 2030.
- National strategies and capacity building: Governments should create tailored oxygen scale-up plans. WHO-supported training in Nepal enabled Bhutan to install PSA plants, showing the value of cross-border cooperation.
- Sustainable regional collaboration: Joint efforts help build resilient systems. WHO-led initiatives in South-East Asia show that regional knowledge sharing can lead to sustainable operations.
Infrastructure and Technological Innovations
- Local production and supply chains: Local manufacturing reduces costs and ensures last-mile oxygen delivery. It also minimizes dependency on imports.
- Innovative, decentralised solutions: Portable concentrators, solar-powered systems, and booster pumps can reach remote areas effectively when included in health plans.
- Addressing energy disruptions: In LMICs, solar-powered systems offer cost-effective, low-maintenance oxygen supply. Ethiopia and Nigeria have implemented these successfully.
Building Sustainable Oxygen Ecosystems
- Policy and Regulations: Governments should integrate oxygen into universal health coverage and establish standards for quality, storage, and distribution.
- Private and global engagement:The private sector must invest in affordable, scalable systems. Global agencies should support funding, infrastructure, and workforce training.
- Innovation through Research and Technology: Academia can design low-cost oxygen technologies, while digital tools improve real-time monitoring and supply chain efficiency.
Conclusion
Access to medical oxygen is a human right, not a privilege. Sustainable investments, political will, and global collaboration can solve this crisis and ensure no one is left behind.
Question for practice:
Examine the key barriers that prevent long-term access to medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries.
