*GHL 08 – Securing Equitable Medical Oxygen Access

Lack of medical oxygen was a defining inequity of the COVID-19 pandemic, with low resource settings bearing the brunt of oxygen shortages and related deaths. The gap had always been there – contributing to a massive burden of death that was largely hidden. While the recent rapid oxygen investments have provided an opportunity to close long-standing gaps in access and strengthen global, regional, and national oxygen policies and implementation plans, the response has been fragmented, key data remain missing, and many patient populations are still being denied treatment.

The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security was launched in September 2022 to address the most critical data gaps and to recommend ways in which access to oxygen can contribute to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), health system strengthening, and pandemic preparedness and response. This Global Health Lab will preview key findings and recommendations, with commentary from a variety of stakeholders including patients, clinicians, health agencies, and industry in the lead up to the publication of the Commission report in 2025.