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Malawi study models impact of oxygen systems and pulse oximetry scale up

Every year, millions of children and patients in low-resource settings face preventable deaths because hospitals cannot reliably provide oxygen. Limited equipment, infrastructure, and trained staff make it difficult for health facilities to deliver this essential, life-saving treatment consistently. Reliable oxygen access can have life-saving results, highlighting key priorities for global health efforts.

To understand the impact of oxygen access, it is beneficial to look at how it saves lives, the challenges that remain, and the solutions being put in place:

Oxygen Saves Lives

  • Oxygen is essential for pneumonia, newborn care, surgery, and emergencies.
  • Many hospitals in low-resource settings lack the infrastructure, equipment, and trained staff to deliver it consistently.
  • Pulse oximetry is a simple, low-cost tool that ensures oxygen reaches the patients who need it most, turning scarce resources into life-saving care.

The Funding Gap

  • Oxygen remains underfunded compared to other essential health interventions.
  • Gaps in financing, infrastructure, and workforce training prevent reliable access. The Lancet Global Health Commission on medical oxygen security identified that operational costs accounting for 50–80% of oxygen system costs but have received little global health funding to date.
  • Millions of children and families are left without this critical treatment.
Credit: Build Health International

A new study from Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL) members modeled the impact and cost-effectiveness of scaling up oxygen systems and pulse oximetry in Malawi. The findings show that increasing access could prevent 28% of childhood deaths from respiratory infections and avert 71,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually. This evidence highlights oxygen and pulse oximetry as highly cost-effective, life-saving interventions yet it is only available in only 10%, 54%, and 83% of primary healthcare facilities, general hospitals, and tertiary hospitals respectively according the Lancet Commission findings.  

Partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), The Global Fund, Unitaid, UNICEF, Africa CDC, The Pan American Health Organization, and Build Health International are working through GO2AL to close these gaps. By combining evidence, technical expertise, and health system knowledge, the Alliance is making the case for greater investment and coordinated action to expand sustainable oxygen access worldwide.