The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security, in its groundbreaking report published on February 17, 2025, highlights the critical importance of medical oxygen as an essential public health service.
Key findings:
- 5 billion peopledo not have access to safe, quality, affordable oxygen
- Each year, 374 million newborns, children, and adults need oxygen
- Less than 1 in 3 (30%) people who need oxygen receive it. This is a larger treatment gap than for HIV/AIDS (23%) and tuberculosis (25%).
- Pulse oximeters are available in only 10% of PHC facilities
- Oxygen is available in only 12% of PHC facilities
- On any given day, 93% of PHC facilities in LMICs experience oxygen stockouts
- Oxygen needs rise exponentially during emergencies: an additional 52 million patients needed oxygen for treating COVID-19 in 2021
- Oxygen is a highly cost-effective investment– as cost-effective as childhood immunizations (US$59 per DALY averted)
The Commission calls for a systems approach to address the multifaceted challenges in oxygen production, storage, distribution, and clinical use, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts across health, education, energy, industry, and transport sectors. The report provides 52 actionable recommendations for governments, industry, global health agencies, donors, and researchers to achieve equitable oxygen access worldwide.
For further reading of the publication, visit: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(24)00496-0/fulltext