UNITAID, partners launch manufacturing initiative for improved access to medical oxygen

By Daniel Dembede

The United Kingdom (UK) government funded UNITAID has announced a US$22 million investment, to support three Kenyan and Tanzanian oxygen manufacturers, in establishing Africa’s first liquid oxygen regional manufacturing program.

The initiative focuses on East and Southern Africa, with production facilities in Kenya and Tanzania aimed at increasing medical oxygen access across the region.

This is Africa’s first regional manufacturing approach to increasing access to medical oxygen.

The program aims to expand medical oxygen production by 300% in East Africa, and reduce oxygen prices by up to 27%, making it more affordable for health care systems across the region, and enabling treatment of thousands of additional patients each month.

Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health said:

“The key role of medical oxygen at all levels of care cannot be emphasized. Kenya’s drive towards universal health coverage requires uninterrupted access to all health products and technologies including medical oxygen.”

“We are delighted as the Ministry of Health to note that this new liquid oxygen manufacturing plant will boost availability all around the country and not just the Coast region. I congratulate UNITAID and all their partners for making funding available and providing technical support to make this possible. We look forward to working together to continue advancing initiatives that boost availability of other health products and technologies apart from medical oxygen.”

UNITAID Executive Director Dr. Philippe Duneton said: “The Mombasa facility is just the beginning of a larger effort to transform oxygen access across Africa. Medical oxygen is critical for saving lives, yet too many health facilities in this region struggle with access.”

The UK’s Deputy Development Director Eduarda Mendonca-Gray said:

“I am pleased to see the collaborative efforts of our partners towards this essential life-saving initiative. Medical oxygen is a lifesaving essential medicine without a substitute. Oxygen is also vital for maternal and newborn survival as well as surgery, emergency, and critical care. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure accessibility for all.”

 With a scalable model, the initiative is intended as a blueprint for oxygen access expansion across Africa to sustainably address critical oxygen shortages.

Through the program, and in collaboration with the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) will lead on market strategy, while PATH will focus on community and civil society engagement.

The three Kenyan and Tanzanian oxygen manufacturers will expand liquid oxygen production and distribution.

“Oxygen is an essential tool for patients’ wellbeing, especially during critical care and major surgery,” said Michael Anderson, CEO of MedAccess.

Over the next decade, the initiative has the potential to save up to 154,000 lives in Kenya and Tanzania alone, addressing life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia, preterm birth complications, and surgical emergencies.

It will also ensure that the countries in East and Southern Africa are better prepared for future respiratory pandemics through the enhanced health security that regional and local production of medical oxygen provides. 

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