Global Oxygen Alliance calls for $4bn to boost oxygen access by 25%

Twenty leading global health organisations and civil society groups have called for $4bn of funding over the next six years to increase oxygen access by 25%, a move that could save 860,000 lives.

The Global Oxygen Alliance (GO₂AL) launched the new Global Oxygen Strategic Framework and Investment Case to expand access to medical oxygen in low-resource settings.

Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid and Co-Chair of GO₂AL, says that oxygen inequalities that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic and caused numerous deaths cannot continue.

“Today, we are providing a clear path for governments and the global health community to make the changes and investments needed to strengthen oxygen access in the countries that need it the most.”

GO₂AL believes fewer than 50% of health facilities in many low-income countries have consistent access to oxygen, with the largest gaps found across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Read more: Better access to medical oxygen is urgently needed, says new report 

Building on the $1bn mobilised by global health agencies to strengthen oxygen supplies in over 120 countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Global Oxygen Strategic Framework and Investment Case is an outline for maintaining and expanding vital investments.

Medial oxygen has no substitute. It is used to treat a broad spectrum of illnesses and conditions, including pneumonia, Covid-19, advanced HIV, severe tuberculosis, and malaria, and is also vital for other health services.

In addition to saving lives, GO₂AL believes oxygen systems to be highly cost-effective and could deliver significant economic gains, with each dollar invested leading to an estimated return of $21.

Peter Sands, Executive Director of The Global Fund and Co-Chair of GO₂AL, believes the window to build on the recent momentum and close the oxygen access gap is now.

He added, “We must act decisively to strengthen health systems and ensure oxygen is available to all who need it, especially young children who are among the most vulnerable when oxygen isn’t available.”

“Investing in oxygen systems is key to achieving universal health coverage and building resilient health systems that can protect populations in future crises, leaving no one behind.”

The launch comes as GO₂AL marks one year of investments in oxygen by its member organisations, having supported over 50 countries to increase access to pulse oximetry and medical oxygen since its launch at the World Health Assembly in 2023.

Futureproofing

In a gasworld webinar earlier this year, Leith Greenslade of Every Breath Counts (EBC) highlighted the alarming persistence of oxygen shortages in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and called for a renewed global commitment to address the issue.

A major concern highlighted during the webinar was the high likelihood of future respiratory pandemics. “There’s a 66% chance that we’ll face another COVID-like pandemic in our lifetimes that could kill ten million or more people,” Greenslade warned.

Read more: Medical oxygen gaps persist, urgent call for global action 

This statistic serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for preparedness. “Countries need to get into the mindset: We’ve got to prepare for the next one. We must serve our underlying patient need now, which is growing, and we need to make sure we have the capacity for when the next respiratory pandemic hits,” she urged.

The full webinar, ‘Medical Gases: Oxygen and Beyond’, is available to watch on demand here.