The Shortage of Medical Oxygen Threatens Millions of People Worldwide

The lack of access to medical oxygen is a silent crisis affecting millions of people worldwide. Every year, nearly 400 million people, including children and adults, require medical oxygen to treat respiratory diseases, neonatal complications, pneumonia, heart failure, and conditions related to COVID-19. However, more than 5 billion people (60% of the global population) lack reliable access to this essential resource.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened this crisis, exposing the weaknesses in many healthcare systems. During peak infection periods, the demand for oxygen surged dramatically, and many low-income nations were unable to meet the need.

For example, in India, during the second wave of COVID-19 in 2021, the oxygen shortage led to thousands of preventable deaths. Meanwhile, in sub-Saharan African countries, hospitals faced the difficult decision of rationing oxygen among the most critically ill patients.

Factors Contributing to the Shortage

The main factors limiting access to medical oxygen include:

• High production and distribution costs: In many low- and middle-income countries, the cost of oxygen can be up to five times higher than in developed nations.
• Insufficient infrastructure: The lack of production plants, storage cylinders, and distribution networks makes it difficult to deliver oxygen to rural areas.
• Dependence on imports: Many countries do not produce medical oxygen locally and rely on costly and inaccessible imports.

Efforts to Address the Crisis

To combat this issue, several global initiatives have been launched. In May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations introduced the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL) to improve access to medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries.

Additionally, organizations such as Unitaid, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation have allocated funds to increase oxygen production capacity in vulnerable regions.

Conclusion

The medical oxygen crisis is a public health emergency. Ensuring a stable and affordable supply is critical to saving lives and strengthening healthcare systems. Investment in infrastructure, cost reduction, and equitable distribution are necessary to prevent millions of people from being deprived of this life-saving treatment.