What does resolution WHA76.3 on medical oxygen ask?

The resolution (agenda item 13.1, adopted at the ninth plenary meeting on 30 May 2023) was read in its official text on 22 October 2026. Its preamble recognises the inclusion of medical oxygen, as a life-saving essential medicine with no substitute, on the 22nd WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and the 8th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children.

What it urges Member States to do

• Lists, plans and rules: include medical oxygen and associated medical devices on national lists of essential medicines and medical devices for adults and children; develop, as appropriate, costed national plans to increase access to quality assured, affordable medical oxygen systems and personnel; and develop national, regional and local health regulations, policies and plans informed by, but not limited to, WHO guidelines and technical specifications.
• Gaps and quality: assess the scale of medical oxygen access gaps, including at subnational and local health facilities; update national pharmacopoeias as appropriate, informed by The International Pharmacopoeia; and promote good manufacturing practices by strengthening quality control in the production chain, filling and distribution of medical oxygen.
• Safe and rational use: prevent toxic oxygen levels among preterm newborns by using oxygen blenders, pulse oximeters and equipment that meet global standards for technical specifications, and consider regular assessments for the rational use of oxygen.
• People: provide for adequate numbers of trained clinical staff, and of qualified staff, including engineers, to establish demand and to select, set up, operate and maintain the equipment and infrastructure for medical oxygen production, storage and uninterrupted distribution to patients.
• Systems and buildings: set up, as appropriate, national and subnational medical oxygen systems; consider the stepwise integration of medical oxygen and other medical gas systems into the construction of health care infrastructure, to improve accessibility and reduce the risk of bottled medical oxygen shortages; and consider including oxygen systems and personnel in pandemic preparedness and response strategies.
• Money and markets: consider increasing domestic financing and international support, and provide transparent procurement and tendering processes, as appropriate, to ensure resilient supply chains for sustainable local manufacturing and procurement; invest, as appropriate, in innovations; and promote research and mutual support.
• Monitoring: monitor access to safe, affordable, quality assured medical oxygen, raise public awareness, including of pulse oximetry as a routine screening tool, and integrate medical oxygen data into routine health information systems.

What it asks of WHO

The resolution makes 11 requests of the WHO Director-General. They include supporting Member States by developing guidelines, technical specifications, forecasting tools and training materials; promoting the convergence and harmonisation of regulations governing the provision of medical oxygen; supporting financing for affordable medical oxygen and for the trained workforce required to install, operate and maintain medical oxygen systems safely; and reporting on progress to the Health Assembly in 2026, 2028 and 2030.

How countries turn the call for costed plans into documents is covered in What is a national medical oxygen plan?