If adopted and implemented, the World Health Organization’s draft resolution to increase access to medical oxygen will help save hundreds of thousands of lives.
At the end of January, WHO’s executive board announced its plan to introduce the Increasing Access to Medical Oxygen resolution for adoption at this year’s World Health Assembly. Although this received little fanfare outside of those working directly in respiratory care, it marks a significant milestone in global health efforts to address medical oxygen shortages in low- and middle-income countries.
No one, no matter where they live, should die from lack of oxygen, a condition we can diagnose easily, treat affordably, and prevent globally. Yet in many countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, a shortage of oxygen has created a health equity crisis. Almost half of the hospitals in LMICs have an inconsistent supply of medical oxygen or lack it entirely, while almost 9 in 10 health facilities do not have access to pulse oximeters needed to diagnose hypoxemia — the condition of having low blood oxygen levels.