Medical oxygen is a lifesaving medicine with no substitute. It is essential for surgery, emergency and critical care, and for treating severe respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and pneumonia. It is also crucial for treating pregnant women with complications, newborns in respiratory distress and people with severe malaria, advanced HIV disease and tuberculosis.

But despite its importance, medical oxygen is often unavailable where needed most. Severe shortages of medical oxygen have been a problem for decades; fewer than 50% of health facilities in many low- and middle- income countries have uninterrupted access. This has deadly consequences for the most vulnerable. For example, of the 7.2 million children with pneumonia in critical need of medical oxygen each year in LMICs, only one in five children will receive it.

In our new Issue Brief, we explain how Unitaid is working with partners to ensure equitable, sustainable access to medical oxygen for the people who need it most. From introducing innovative new devices to provide oxygen to newborns who are struggling to breathe to negotiating cost-saving new deals with liquid oxygen suppliers, we’re responding to today’s crises while helping build sustainable systems that will save millions more lives in the future.

Media contact:

For more information and media requests:

Hervé Verhoosel

Head of Communications and Spokesperson

M: +33 6 22 59 73 54

verhooselh@unitaid.who.int