Bottlenecks and Enablers to Oxygen Access
| Factor | Bottleneck | Enabler |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | Inadequate supply of oxygen to meet patient needs. | Oxygen plants established in strategic locations increasing the accessibility of supply. |
| Transportation | Limited availability of vehicles for transportation; long distance to oxygen source. | Adequate number of vehicles and cylinders to transport necessary quantities of oxygen; shorter distances from hospitals to oxygen plants. |
| Cost | High cost of oxygen procurement for hospitals and, by extension, for patients. | Close proximity of oxygen plants to hospitals decrease transportation costs; Government guidelines provided around oxygen pricing for patients. |
| Equipment | Inadequate supply of equipment or consumables limiting ability to provide safe and effective oxygen therapy. | Improved access to supply chains and financing for equipment and consumables such as cylinder regulators, flowmeters, nasal cannulas, and pulse oximeters. |
| Clinical Skills | Clinicians have limited opportunities for training on safe and effective oxygen therapy administration. | Training is offered to refresh clinicians on safe and effective oxygen therapy administration. |