By Neelam Azmat – Portfolio Manager, SRHR & SGBV
Medical oxygen is the cornerstone for saving lives and treating chronic conditions. Yet, for millions of people around the world—especially children suffering from pneumonia—access to oxygen therapy is a critical, unmet need. This World Pneumonia Day, we recognize the urgent importance of closing this gap.
At Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), we have been investing in the oxygen ecosystem long before the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for reliable oxygen delivery solutions. As we continue to navigate healthcare challenges brought on by the pandemic and beyond, we remain steadfast in our commitment to scaling innovations that help bridge the global oxygen gap.
Our journey in oxygen solutions began with a focus on childhood pneumonia, one of the leading causes of death in children under five. While pneumonia is treatable with the right medical interventions, access to those treatments is often limited, particularly in low-resource settings. In 2012, GCC made its first investment in a low-cost respiratory support system—a $2M initiative developed by William Marsh Rice University and implemented in Malawi.
When COVID-19 hit, the global demand for medical oxygen surged, highlighting an urgent gap in oxygen availability as health systems worldwide struggled to meet the needs of patients in critical respiratory distress.
In response, GCC intensified its efforts to support and scale oxygen solutions globally. Our investments during this period were designed not only to meet short-term emergency demand but to create long-term, scalable solutions that would help close the oxygen therapy gap for years to come.
Key Innovations in the Oxygen Ecosystem
Throughout our ongoing efforts, we have invested in a wide range of oxygen solutions—technologies that address both immediate and long-term challenges in oxygen delivery.
Some of the standout innovations we have supported include:
- bCPAP (Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure): Built by Vayu, the bCPAP system generates accessible, quality oxygen without requiring electricity or medical compressed air. GCC’s investment aims to increase the accessibility of this essential device for high-risk newborns in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Oxygen Concentrators: Designed for facilities with unreliable electricity, the FREO2 concentrator provides uninterrupted oxygen therapy to those in need. Alongside product innovation, FREO2 is scaling business innovation, Oxygen as a Service, that ensures sustained provision of medical oxygen in low-resource settings.
- Solar-powered oxygen concentrator (SPO2): Funded by GCC and developed by Dr. Michael Hawkes and Global Health Uganda, this concentrator provides uninterrupted oxygen supply to patients without relying on the grid. The solution, initially tested in Uganda, was later scaled by WHO in Somalia.
- Oxygen Production Plants: GCC has funded various oxygen plants, including Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) plants and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) manufacturing plants through a long-term commitment to Hewatele since 2017.
- Pulse Oximeters: GCC has funded a range of stand-alone pulse oximeters as well as multi-parameter continuous vital signs monitors, such as Neopenda’s neoGuard to detect when infants and children are in distress and may need additional treatments like oxygen therapy.
We continue to be unwavering in our commitment to supporting innovations in the oxygen ecosystem that are sustainable, scalable, and impactful. While the pandemic highlighted the need for oxygen solutions, our long-term focus remains on closing the oxygen therapy gap globally, particularly in underserved regions. We believe that scaling proven innovations and business models is key to achieving universal access to life-saving oxygen therapy. Looking ahead, we are excited about the potential for further innovation in this space.
