Oxygen is essential. It is a key treatment for a wide range of diseases that affect all parts of the population—but it’s often overlooked in health system planning for a number of reasons. It is both a medicine and a device, has complex delivery infrastructure, requires proper training for health workers and sustainable maintenance plans for oxygen equipment, and should be supported by sufficient budget.
While medical oxygen remains an essential commodity for improving a variety of health outcomes, the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted its importance as the first line treatment for COVID-19 patients struggling to breathe. However, many countries, including India, face a gap in access to medical oxygen, leaving many health facilities in these communities unequipped to meet the level of patient demand.
The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the role of medical oxygen as a lifesaving therapy for patients struggling to breathe. It also pushed to the surface the long-existing issue of oxygen access gap, as it created an overwhelming demand for oxygen technologies and supplies across many health facilities in LMICs.
Closing this gap will require an integrated set of solutions and investment in strengthening the oxygen delivery systems, including resilient oxygen markets—from demand planning to financing to supply and distribution systems. PATH the Chicago based Not for Profit organisation has been working in India for many years. In the past they have worked on areas like providing contraception to remote areas of the country by tying up with India Posts, you can read that story here- Link.
Now they have launched the “Markets Matter: Closing the Oxygen Gap” initiative, this campaign puts a spotlight on the role that efficient markets play in scaling up #OxygenAccess. Now is the time to add your voice and help close the oxygen gap!
We have a chance to move some of the solutions forward now to ensure a rapid response to the pandemic, as well as build a sustained platform for the future. Now is the time to use our voices to elevate these important messages about the need to prioritize oxygen access amidst the COVID-19 pandemic – and beyond.
You can get involved as well, please download the campaign material from this link and share it within your network. Looking forward to all your support.