Scaling Access to Medical Oxygen in Kenya

A sufficient supply of medical oxygen is instrumental to an effectively functioning health system. Oxygen helps save lives, and its provision is a critical component of emergency respiratory resuscitation worldwide; it consequently features on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of essential medicines. According to the WHO, Oxygen is crucial in managing pneumonia and other lung diseases. In addition, it is essential for treating various non-respiratory conditions. It is equally necessary for surgical care, emergencies, and anesthesia. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of medical oxygen as an essential commodity for managing severe COVID-19 cases requiring respiratory support. This emphasized the need for enhanced access to medical oxygen in health facilities. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed oxygen as an essential medicine, which Kenya ratified in 2019. Including oxygen on the Kenya Essential Medicines List (KEML) elevated it to a priority medication, increasing demand for its procurement, distribution, and prescription. This prioritization necessitates corresponding investment in budgeting, financing, procurement, and distribution mechanisms.