A breakdown in the supply of medical gases or oxygen can have serious consequences for the people who depend on them for their health and well-being.

Remarks

Here are some examples of possible consequences of a disruption in the supply of medical gases or oxygen:

• Disruptions in medical care: a disruption in the supply of medical gases can lead to disruptions in medical care, including the need to find alternatives to treatments that use these gases.
• Health problems: a disruption in the supply of oxygen can lead to health problems for people who rely on it for breathing, including breathing difficulties and heart problems.
• Health system disruptions: a disruption in the supply of medical gases or oxygen can lead to health system disruptions, including the need to move patients and find alternatives to treatments that use these gases.
• Additional costs: A disruption in the supply of medical gases or oxygen may result in additional costs to patients and the health system, including the need to find alternatives to treatments that use these gases.

It is important to note that prevention of medical gas or oxygen supply disruptions is crucial to reduce the risk of disruption to medical management and health problems. This can be achieved by ensuring that medical gas and oxygen delivery systems are properly designed, installed and maintained, and by putting in place effective monitoring and warning systems to detect and prevent the risk of supply disruptions.

The following are some examples of how this can be achieved.

Here are some examples of incidents that have been caused by medical gas or oxygen breaks:

• In January 2021, a rupture in the oxygen supply caused the death of 21 people at a hospital in New Delhi, India.
• In January 2020, a rupture in the oxygen supply caused the deaths of nine people in a hospital in Barranquilla, Colombia.
• In February 2019, a rupture in the oxygen supply caused the death of 22 people in a hospital in Gomel, Belarus.