The Global Oxygen Crisis: Urgent Need for Medical Supplies

Tue Sep 30 2025 05:38:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Experts highlight a severe worldwide shortage of medical oxygen, risking millions of lives across low and middle-income countries.

A recent report reveals that while more than 370 million people globally require medical oxygen each year, less than one-third actually receive it, leading to dire health consequences. This shortage became painfully evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, where many individuals in poor regions suffered and died from a lack of oxygen, even in medical settings. The report, published in The Lancet Global Health, emphasizes the critical need for investment—estimated at $6.8 billion—to enhance the supply chain of medical oxygen, particularly in low-income areas.

Dr. Hamish Graham, a pediatrician and lead author of the study, stressed the urgency of addressing this crisis, particularly in light of future pandemics and epidemics expected in the next 15 to 20 years. Following actions taken by the former Trump administration, which halted foreign aid programs that could improve oxygen access, the report calls for governments and organizations to prioritize medical oxygen’s expansion. Its importance spans across various medical needs, including treatment for pneumonia, severe infections such as sepsis, surgical procedures, and chronic respiratory ailments.

With the continuing threat of outbreaks and the critical role oxygen plays in combatting health emergencies, the report serves as a stark reminder of the dire humanitarian challenges that still exist in the realm of medical support worldwide.