National Strategy for the Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities
Strategy · Health
A Strategy expands medical oxygen infrastructure in health facilities across Nigeria through supply chain strengthening and capacity building. It targets federal and state health authorities, facility managers, and oxygen suppliers. This ensures reliable oxygen access for emergency services.
National Strategy for the Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities
What Is This Policy?
An operational strategy that lays out the roadmap for expanding medical oxygen infrastructure, strengthening supply chains, and building technical capacity to ensure reliable oxygen availability in health facilities across Nigeria.
Who Does It Target?
Federal and state health authorities Health facility managers and biomedical engineers Medical oxygen suppliers and equipment manufacturers Development partners supporting health system strengthening
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Achieve universal access to medical oxygen in health facilities providing emergency and inpatient services, through investment in oxygen production, distribution infrastructure, trained workforce, and quality assurance systems.
Key Features
Infrastructure Investment: Installation of pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants at referral hospitals Equipment Scale-Up: Distribution of oxygen concentrators to primary and secondary health facilities Workforce Training: Technician training for equipment maintenance and health worker training on oxygen therapy Supply Chain Development: Reliable distribution networks for cylinders, concentrators, and consumables Quality Assurance: Monitoring oxygen purity, equipment functionality, and clinical outcomes
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active with accelerated investment following the COVID-19 pandemic response Coverage: Progressive expansion from tertiary hospitals to secondary and primary facilities Lead Agency: Federal Ministry of Health Partners: WHO, PATH, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Global Fund, World Bank
How to Access
Health facilities participate in the scale-up through their state health authority and development partner programmes. State ministries of health coordinate facility assessments and prioritization Facilities receive equipment and training through phased rollout plans Technical partners provide installation, commissioning, and maintenance support
Impact & Metrics
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical gaps in oxygen availability. This strategy builds on pandemic investments to establish permanent oxygen infrastructure. The goal is to eliminate oxygen shortages as a cause of preventable deaths in Nigerian health facilities.
Official Resources
Website: health.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja
Legal Framework
Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act 1993, the National Drug Policy, and the National Policy on Medical Oxygen. Draws on WHO technical specifications for oxygen systems, the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, and the Access to Medical Oxygen guidelines of the Every Breath Counts Coalition.