Decision-makers
These user scenarios are targeted to people with the authority to make improved access to oxygen delivery systems a reality through supportive policymaking and implementation—including funding, regulations, and laws. These decision-makers include representatives of funding or regulatory bodies, officials from the ministry of health or finance, parliamentarians, regional health leaders, and district health committee members.
WHO definitions and technical specifications related to oxygen
The International Pharmacopoeia – Medicinal Oxygen (11th Edition)
GUIDANCE | This outlines the update to the definition of medical oxygen, particularly the specifics of 93% and 99.5% purity of medical oxygen, as of May 2022.
May 2022
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
Essential Medicine List: Oxygen
GUIDANCE | This website provides the details for medical oxygen for the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List.
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
Interagency List of Priority Medical Devices for Essential Interventions for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
TOOL | This list highlights the medical devices required to provide the essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health interventions defined by existing WHO guidelines and publications.
June 2016
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO-UNICEF Technical Specifications and Guidance for Oxygen Therapy Devices
GUIDANCE | This interagency publication provides harmonized product specifications for a wide range of products for delivering oxygen therapy and guidance on the selection, procurement, use, and maintenance of these products.
January 2019
By: World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF
WHO Technical Specifications for Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants
GUIDANCE | This document provides technical specifications for the minimum requirements that a PSA oxygen plant must meet for use for the administration of medical-grade oxygen.
June 2020
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Technical Specifications for Oxygen Concentrators
GUIDANCE | This guidance document supports the selection, procurement, utilization, and maintenance of oxygen concentrators.
June 2015
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Technical Specifications for Health Facility based Medical Oxygen Systems
GUIDANCE | The purpose of this document is to present a comprehensive package of technical specifications for medical oxygen system products and components: source, storage and distribution.
December 2024
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
Developing a national oxygen roadmap or strategy
National Medical Oxygen Scale-Up Plan: Development Guidance
GUIDANCE | This guidance is intended to support the development of an actionable plan for medical oxygen scale up, which should follow a clear methodology and elements for continuous monitoring and evaluating.
February 2025
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Virtual Workshop Series for Developing National Medical Oxygen Scale-Up Plans
PRESENTATION / WEBINAR | WHO hosted a virtual workshop series to introduce practical and applicable knowledge for Member States and partners to expand on or develop costed national oxygen scale-up plans.
March 2025
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
How to Design and Implement National Oxygen Roadmaps for Oxygen Scale Up: Case Study from Ethiopia
ARTICLE | In 2016, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health designed and implemented an oxygen and pulse oximetry scale up road map, which resulted in significant improvements in oxygen availability and use.
January 2022
By: Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
From Production to Patient: A Roadmap to Strengthen Oxygen Access in Malawi
ARTICLE | PATH partnered with the Malawi Ministry of Health and UNICEF to develop and launch a roadmap to establish and maintain a comprehensive national medical oxygen ecosystem.
December 2021
By: PATH
Cambodia Oxygen Preparedness Plan (2022-2025)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | The objective of this Oxygen Preparedness Plan is to identify and implement priority activities which urgently need to be undertaken to respond to the current COVID-19 outbreak in Cambodia.
December 2021
By: Cambodia Ministry of Health
Eswatini’s National Medical Oxygen Operational Plan (2023-2025)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | The overarching objective of this operational plan is to improve access to medical oxygen for all people in Eswatini and ensure effective use to save lives by the year 2025.
December 2022
By: Eswatini Ministry of Health
Ethiopia’s National Medical Oxygen and Pulse Oximetry Scale Up Road Map (2016-2021)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This roadmap is intended to guide scale up of oxygen and pulse oximeters as well as standardizing the need for comprehensive approach to implementation at all levels throughout Ethiopia.
September 2016
By: Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health
Ethiopian Medical Oxygen Roadmap II (2022-2027)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | Their second iteration, this oxygen roadmap provides a comprehensive approach to overcome prevailing bottlenecks and improve access to medical oxygen, diagnostics, and hypoxemia management.
August 2023
By: Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health
Lesotho’s National Medical Oxygen Strategy and Scale-Up Plan (2023-2028)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | Under the four interdependent strategic objectives, this strategy provides policy and implementation framework for scaling up medical oxygen within the system in Lesotho.
July 2023
By: Lesotho Ministry of Health
National Roadmap to Increase Access to Medical Oxygen in Liberia (2021-2024)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This roadmap is intended to guide implementation and coordination of oxygen activities in Liberia, to provide cost estimates for implementation, and to support resource mobilization efforts.
October 2021
By: Liberia Ministry of Health
Madagascar’s National Strategic Plan for Oxygen Therapy (2021-2023)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This strategic plan for oxygen therapy aims to achieve 100% oxygen coverage at each level of the health system in Madagascar, through autonomy of oxygen production at the regional level.
September 2021
By: Madagascar Ministry of Public Health
Malawi’s National Medical Oxygen Ecosystem Roadmap (2021-2026)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This oxygen roadmap provides a structured and attainable plan to establish and maintain a comprehensive national medical oxygen ecosystem in Malawi.
December 2021
By: Malawi Ministry of Health and Population, PATH, UNICEF
Nigeria’s National Strategy for the Scale Up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities (2017-2022)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This national strategy aims to reduce mortality and morbidity from hypoxemia in Nigeria by addressing the key gaps in access to medical oxygen.
May 2017
By: Nigeria National Ministry of Health
Nigeria’s National Strategy for the Scale-up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities (2023-2027)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This second national strategy builds on the foundations laid by the first plan (2017-2022) for more equitable access to medical oxygen in health facilities in Nigeria.
April 2023
By: Nigeria National Ministry of Health
Increasing Access to Medical Oxygen in Rwanda National Strategy (2024-2027)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This strategy provides a clear roadmap for increasing access to medical oxygen to reach those in need at all levels of the healthcare system in Rwanda.
May 2024
By: Rwanda Ministry of Health
Tanzania’s National Medical Oxygen Scale-Up Plan
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This plan aims to ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability of quality medical oxygen therapy to meet universal health coverage in the country.
June 2022
By: Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children
Uganda National Scale Up of Medical Oxygen Implementation Plan (2018-2022)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | This National Medical Oxygen Scale Up Implementation Plan articulates a holistic approach to improving demand and supply of medical oxygen in Uganda.
April 2019
By: Uganda Ministry of Health
Zambian National Medical Oxygen Strategic Plan (2022–2026)
GOVERNMENT POLICY / STRATEGY | The Zambian National Medical Oxygen Strategic Plan 2022–2026 provides strategic direction for ensuring the supply of safe medical oxygen needed to manage clients with respiratory conditions, including COVID-19.
May 2023
By: Zambia Ministry of Health
Planning for respiratory care at the national level
Oxygen Delivery Toolkit: Resources to Plan and Scale Medical Oxygen
REPOSITORY / TOOLKIT | This Oxygen Delivery Toolkit provides materials to help plan, manage, and communicate the value of scaling up oxygen delivery systems and access to oxygen and pulse oximetry.
May 2020
By: PATH
Foundations of Medical Oxygen Systems
GUIDANCE | This document has been compiled to capture definitions, technical requirements, tools and resources related to medical oxygen systems.
February 2023
By: World Health Organization (WHO)
Business Models in Respiratory Care
INFORMATION BRIEF | This brief introduces the oxygen ecosystem and then outlines four business models: bulk supply agreements, cash-and-carry filling stations, direct equipment purchases, and equipment leasing.
October 2021
By: PATH, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Respiratory Care Equipment Market Report
REPORT | This market report serves as a preliminary guide to available suppliers with capacity to provide equipment for respiratory care and is intended to help conduct an initial supplier landscaping.
December 2020
By: PATH, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Assessing the Medical Oxygen Ecosystem: Tools from National to Primary Healthcare Levels
TOOL | This collection of tools is a resource to support meaningful assessments and better target effective interventions for those who are building the oxygen ecosystem.
April 2021
By: Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project
PIH Technical Toolkit: Building Resilient Oxygen Systems
TOOL | This tool is meant to support the strengthening of oxygen ecosystems, including infrastructure design and maintenance, supply chain, training and ongoing mentorship, and clinical guideline development.
April 2021
By: Partners in Health, Build Health International, Jim Ansara, Frances Cherestal, Noah Hudelson, Forrest Shroyer, Paul Sonenthal
The Medical Oxygen Innovation Landscape: Technologies and Business Models to Improve Access
REPORT | This report highlights significant advancements in oxygen production, distribution, and delivery, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which are crucial for improving health care in LMICs.
August 2024
By: Unitaid