Every year, around 25 million people die from conditions that could be treated with medical oxygen, an essential medicine still out of reach for most patients in low- and middle-income countries.
How innovation is keeping lifesaving medical oxygen flowing
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Every year, around 25 million people die from conditions that could be treated with medical oxygen, an essential medicine still out of reach for most patients in low- and middle-income countries. Expanding access could prevent 350,000 child deaths each year and deliver impact as cost-effective as childhood vaccines.
The Oxygen CoLab is helping to change that. It is building new, sustainable markets for oxygen through working with local small businesses and government partners to make sure hospitals can rely on a steady, affordable supply of medical oxygen.
In places like Nigeria and Uganda, this approach, known as Oxygen-as-a-Service (O₂aaS), helps hospitals buy oxygen as a reliable service rather than purchasing cylinders outright. Local companies install and maintain the equipment, train staff, and guarantee supply so oxygen is always available when patients need it. Our recent paper: ‘Outsourced Oxygen-to-the-Bedside’ provides early evidence on how these service-based models improve reliability and affordability.
The CoLab focuses on closing what it calls “the Missing Middle”, the gap between large oxygen producers and the hospitals at the point of care. By supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to bridge that gap, the CoLab is helping to build a self-sustaining market that keeps oxygen flowing to the bedside.
Local providers such as HealthPort (Nigeria), FREO₂ (Uganda), and AFHIA (Uganda) are already showing what’s possible: reliable supply, lower costs, and better patient outcomes.
Results so far:
- 22:1 co-investment in research and development, leading to the first fit-for-purpose oxygen concentrator launched in 2024
- 100% system uptime and up to 70% lower delivery costs in pilot sites
- 49% reduction in child deaths from oxygen-related complications in 20 Ugandan facilities
- Shifts in global consensus towards service based models thanks to our evidence and insights
These results show how UK catalytic investment is unlocking local innovation, attracting new finance, and helping governments build stronger health systems.
- Watch the short film: When the Oxygen Arrives
- Read our academic evidence: Outsourced Oxygen-to-the-Bedside
- Learn more: About the Oxygen CoLab
- Sign up to the newsletter: The Breathing Room
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