The Oxygen Alliance celebrates a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey towards strengthening its healthcare system: the official launch of the Kenya Medical Oxygen Roadmap (2025-2030) and accompanying national guidelines which included Guidelines on Production, Delivery, and Management of Medical Oxygen in Kenya and Technical Specifications for Medical Oxygen, Oxygen Therapy Devices and Equipment. The comprehensive strategy, developed through long standing collaborations between the Ministry of Health, Kenya , county governments, and numerous development and implementing partners including Oxygen Alliance, PATH , Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. , AMREF , and with support from The Global Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , marks the first of many powerful steps in ensuring every Kenyan has access to life-saving medical oxygen.
Having been at the forefront of championing the importance of robust oxygen ecosystems, built on a foundation of maintenance, repair, and sustainability of biomedical equipment, the challenges highlighted during the launch event in Kenya ranging from suboptimal oxygen delivery practices of the past to the high operational costs of PSA plants and logistical hurdles in distribution, resonate deeply with our mission. These vulnerabilities in global oxygen supply chains came to a head during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Kenya’s proactive approach in developing this roadmap is a testament to the lessons learned and a commitment to building resilient and sustainable healthcare systems.
Collaboration and Evidence
The newly launched roadmap leaves no stone unturned, providing a clear strategic framework designed to move Kenya from an emergency-response footing to a future of long-term, sustainable, and integrated oxygen systems, by addressing vital pressure points that the Oxygen Alliance continuously advocates for:
- Strengthened Governance and Coordination: Establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and collaborative mechanisms across national and county levels, and with all stakeholders.
- Robust Regulatory Frameworks: Implementing and adhering to clear policies and guidelines for oxygen production, quality, and delivery.
- Optimized Infrastructure and Equipment Management: Focusing on appropriate and well-maintained infrastructure for oxygen generation (including PSA plants and LOX systems), storage, and distribution. This includes the provision of technical specifications to guide procurement and ensure quality.
- Capacity Building for Human Resources: Investing in skilled personnel, particularly biomedical engineers and technicians, for the maintenance and repair of oxygen equipment, alongside training clinicians for rational oxygen use.
- Sustainable Financing Models: Developing clear strategies for financing the oxygen ecosystem, recognizing oxygen as an essential, albeit costly, health commodity.
- Data-Driven Monitoring and Evaluation: Implementing systems to track oxygen availability, consumption, and quality to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
The roadmap acknowledges the significant gap between current oxygen production capacity (estimated at 12 billion litres annually) and the national need (62-64 billion litres annually). This strategic roadmap aims to guide the concerted efforts and evidence led investment practices so as to bridge this 81% gap.
Our Commitment
The challenges faced in Kenya are not unique, with many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) grappling with similar issues; supply demand gaps, infrastructure bottlenecks, and human resource gaps that encumber reliable access to medical oxygen. The emphasis within the Kenya Medical Oxygen Roadmap on preventive maintenance, workforce development, and sustainable infrastructure aligns perfectly with the core pillars of the Oxygen Alliance. We believe that by prioritizing the repair and proper upkeep of existing and new equipment, and by fostering a culture of skilled local management, countries can maximize the impact of their health investments and save countless lives.
We commend the Kenyan Ministry of Health and all involved partners for this forward-thinking initiative. The Oxygen Alliance stands ready to support the implementation of this roadmap, sharing expertise, fostering knowledge exchange, and advocating for the role of biomedical engineering and sustainable practices in achieving oxygen security for all.
For more information on the Oxygen Alliance and our work in strengthening healthcare ecosystems through equipment maintenance and repair, please visit Oxygen Alliance.
