New York Times: “Amid COVID-19 Cases, Shortages of Medical Oxygen Ignite Fears”
In a recent development, hospitals in several low-income countries, including India, are reporting severe shortages of medical oxygen to treat critically ill Covid-19 patients. India, the world’s second-most populous country, is currently enduring its direst surge of the virus, with record-breaking numbers of daily cases and deaths since mid-April. The available supply of medical oxygen is not enough to meet the stunning demand, seeing a stark increase from typical consumption in the previous year. In response, the government has permitted the use of bulk containers to increase the supply. However, more oxygen supply needs to be brought in from outside the country. In this context, AstraZeneca’s recent announcement that it will transfer technology to produce a generic version of its Covid-19 vaccine in India is a valuable support for the country’s fight against the pandemic. Despite rising oxygen supplies in recent days, the shortages remain, leading to scenes of desperate families pleading for help on the streets. The situation is exacerbating an already dire patient care situation, and some medical professionals are choosing to leave their jobs. This article highlights the critical need for support to increase oxygen supply, and the Indian government’s after-the-fact response is seen as insufficient. The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering loosening its norms on medical oxygen usage to help in dire situations. The severe shortage of oxygen has amplified challenges seen in other countries last year and runs counter to the initially reported assumption in India that the health care system is prepared to weather this storm. This event highlights the importance of remembering that with each new variation of the virus, the pandemic has the potential to spread to every corner of the world. Countries equipped with vaccine delivery systems and other medical resources have a moral obligation not only to assist but also to share those resources to help mitigate the global effects of future waves.
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