New Unitaid-backed project to pilot next-generation oxygen technologies and sustainable delivery models

Today, Unitaid and PATH announced the launch of a four-year initiative – Innovations for Enhanced Access to Oxygen (INNOVATE) – to pilot breakthrough oxygen technologies and scalable business models aimed at ensuring a reliable, affordable supply of medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries – where millions of patients still lack access to this lifesaving treatment.

Medical oxygen is essential for safe surgery and for treating pneumonia, sepsis, malaria, trauma and other conditions that cause dangerously low blood oxygen levels. Yet access remains deeply unequal: only about 30% of patients in low- and middle-income countries who need oxygen receive it, contributing to an estimated 9 million deaths each year, including 1.6 million children under five.

This gap persists not only because of limited supply, but because oxygen systems are difficult to sustain. Oxygen plants are costly and complex to operate; piping systems require specialized installation; spare parts and maintenance are often unreliable or unaffordable; and limited financing leaves ministries struggling to keep systems running. When these systems fail, patients are left without this essential medicine.

Among the technologies being tested is a ceramic-based oxygen generator originally developed by NASA for use in space. When adapted for hospital settings, the device extracts high-purity oxygen from ambient air using heated ceramic components. This new technology could be easier to maintain and more reliable than traditional oxygen plants, especially in places with limited technical staff. The project will test how well it works compared to existing systems, such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants, which generate oxygen on-site from air, and liquid oxygen systems that supply oxygen produced elsewhere.

“Innovation only delivers impact when it is intentionally shaped for equitable access,” said Unitaid Executive Director Dr. Philippe Duneton. “New technologies alone will not close the oxygen gap. What matters is how we reduce risk, lower costs and ensure solutions can be sustained. That is how we turn breakthrough science into everyday access for the people who need it most.”

The initiative will also test simpler approaches to installing hospital oxygen piping. Corrugated medical tubing offers a flexible alternative to rigid copper pipes, reducing installation time and complexity. New ways of connecting pipes such as axially swaged fittings that use mechanical compression rather than flame welding allow systems to be installed more quickly and with less specialized labor. Together, these approaches aim to lower installation costs and make it easier for hospitals to expand bedside oxygen access.

“In too many hospitals, oxygen is available one day and unavailable the next,” said Nikolaj Gilbert, President and Chief Executive Officer at PATH. “This project focuses on practical solutions that reduce complexity, lower operating costs and make maintenance easier. Our goal is to help countries move from fragile systems to dependable access for every patient who needs oxygen.”

But the goal extends beyond testing equipment. The project will generate practical evidence not only on new technologies, but also on smarter ways to deliver and sustain oxygen over time. In partnership with local firms, PATH and country stakeholders will test business models that strengthen spare parts supply, extend the operational time of equipment, expand cylinder and mini-tank distribution, and support outsourced operation and maintenance of oxygen plants. At the same time, the project will use this evidence to inform regulatory approval, pricing and commercialization strategies, helping governments and manufacturers plan for scale while protecting past infrastructure investments.

The project will also support advocacy and community engagement by establishing the first-ever community advisory board for medical oxygen and strengthen locally led civil society coalitions for oxygen access, ensuring that new approaches respond to local needs and continue to function reliably, long after the pilots ends.

About the INNOVATE consortium
Funded by Unitaid, the INNOVATE project is led by PATH and includes a consortium of partners: Build Health International (BHI), the Global Health Informatics Institute (GHII), the India Institute of Technology (IIT), Karolinska Institute, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and Oxygen for Life (OFL). Together, the partners bring expertise in engineering, clinical research, health systems strengthening and market development to support sustainable access to medical oxygen.

About Unitaid
Unitaid saves lives by making new health products affordable and available in low- and middle-income countries. Collaborating with partners, Unitaid identifies innovative treatments, tackles market barriers, and quickly delivers solutions to those in need. Since 2006, Unitaid has unlocked over 100 health products, addressing HIV, TB, malaria, women’s and children’s health, and pandemic preparedness. Every year, these products benefit more than 300 million people. Unitaid is a hosted partnership of the World Health Organization. www.unitaid.org

About PATH
PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 45 years of experience forging multisector partnerships, and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.