Gasping for Air in Africa

Severe shortages of medical oxygen across sub-Saharan Africa have robbed many patients with severe COVID-19 and pneumonia of a key time-buying treatment.

Activists blame 2 suppliers, The Linde Group and Air Liquide, that monopolize the market—overcharging and limiting supplies. “These prices are completely beyond the reach of most public hospitals across sub-Saharan Africa,” says Leith Greenslade of the Every Breath Counts coalition. Hospitals are forced to pass the cost on to patients.

Ex-employees and analysts estimate profit margins of between 45-88% on medical oxygen. And some companies charge up to 7X more for medical oxygen vs. industrial.

In response, some hospitals are building their own oxygen plants—that paid off in Uganda.

Other strategies adopted by hospitals are supplying suitcase-sized oxygen concentrates to convert ambient air and decentralizing production.

Courtesy: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health