Official Launch of The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security

After two and a half years, The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security was officially launched at the CUGH 2025 conference on February 18th, following the release of its report. The report highlights the urgent global crisis of inadequate access to medical oxygen, with 5 billion people—60% of the world’s population—lacking access to safe, quality, and affordable oxygen. This shortage contributes to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths annually, particularly among newborns, children, and patients with acute medical conditions.

The report also reveals that pulse oximeters, essential tools for detecting oxygen deprivation, are unavailable in 90% of primary healthcare facilities in LMICs, hindering timely diagnosis and treatment. It calls for urgent investment in oxygen infrastructure, supply chains, and healthcare workforce training to ensure life-saving oxygen reaches those who need it most.

The Commission, which includes Dr. Niranjan Kissoon as a Commissioner and Dr. Mark Ansermino as an Advisor, presents 52 policy recommendations for governments, industry, and global health agencies to address these gaps by 2030. Investing in medical oxygen is a cost-effective strategy to strengthen health systems, advance progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals, and prevent future crises.