Closing the Access Gap to Oxygen Therapy

Medical oxygen is the cornerstone for saving lives and treating chronic conditions. But for millions of people around the world, especially children with pneumonia, access to oxygen therapy is a critical and unmet need. On this World Pneumonia Day, we recognize the urgent importance of closing this gap.

At Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), we have been investing in the oxygen ecosystem long before the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for reliable oxygen delivery solutions. As we continue to meet the healthcare challenges brought by the pandemic and beyond, we remain steadfast in our commitment to scale innovations that help close the global oxygen gap.

Our oxygen solutions journey began by focusing on childhood pneumonia, one of the leading causes of death in children under five. Although pneumonia can be treated with the right medical interventions, access to these treatments is often limited, especially in resource-limited settings. In 2012, GCC made its first investment in a low-cost respiratory support system, a $2 million initiative developed by William Marsh Rice University and implemented in Malawi.

When COVID-19 emerged, global demand for medical oxygen increased, highlighting an urgent gap in oxygen availability as healthcare systems worldwide struggled to meet the needs of patients in critical respiratory distress.

In response, GCC has intensified efforts to support and scale oxygen solutions globally. Our investments during this period are designed not only to meet short-term emergency demand, but also to create long-term, scalable solutions that will help close the oxygen therapy gap in the years to come.

Key Innovations in the Oxygen Ecosystem

Throughout our ongoing efforts, we have invested in a wide range of oxygen solutions – technologies that address both immediate and long-term challenges in oxygen delivery.

Some of the prominent innovations we support include:

1. bCPAP (Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure): The bCPAP system produced by Vayu produces accessible, quality oxygen without the need for electricity or medical compressed air. GCC’s investment aims to increase the availability of this essential device for high-risk newborns in sub-Saharan Africa.

2. Oxygen Concentrators: Designed for facilities with unreliable electricity, the FREO2 concentrator provides uninterrupted oxygen therapy to those in need. FREO2 scales business innovation as well as product innovation. Oxygen as a ServiceThis ensures a continuous supply of medical oxygen in resource-limited environments.

3. Solar powered oxygen concentrator (SPO2): Funded by GCC and Dr. Developed by Michael Hawkes and Global Health Uganda, this concentrator provides patients with uninterrupted oxygen supply without being connected to the mains. The solution was first tested in Uganda and later Scaled by WHO in Somalia.

4. Oxygen Production Facilities: GCC has financed several oxygen plants with a long-term commitment, including Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) plants and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) production plants. Hewatele Since 2017.

5. Pulse Oximeters: The GCC has funded a number of standalone pulse oximeters as well as multi-parameter continuous vital sign monitors: Neopenda’s neoGuard detects when babies and children are in distress and may need additional treatments, such as oxygen therapy.

We remain committed to supporting sustainable, scalable and impactful innovations in the oxygen ecosystem. While the pandemic has highlighted the need for oxygen solutions, our long-term focus is to continue closing the oxygen therapy gap globally, particularly in underserved regions. We believe that scaling proven innovations and business models is key to providing universal access to life-saving oxygen therapy. Looking ahead, we are excited about the potential for further innovation in this area.