Nepal advances first National Oxygen Roadmap through Sudurpashchim provincial consultation

Sudurpashchim province  - The Ministry of Health and Food Safety and WHO Country Office for Nepal convened a provincial consultation and hospital assessment mission in Sudurpashchim Province from 16–19 May 2026 to support the development of Nepal’s first National Oxygen Roadmap. The initiative brought together senior government officials, hospital leaders, biomedical engineers, logistics experts and local authorities to identify priority actions for strengthening oxygen systems, which are critical for treating pneumonia, COVID-19, tuberculosis and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as for childbirth and surgery. Strengthening oxygen systems is also a cornerstone of pandemic influenza preparedness, as severe influenza cases often require timely access to medical oxygen for managing complications such as acute respiratory distress. Assessments were conducted at Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Mahakali and Seti hospitals, focusing on Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants, concentrators, medical gas pipelines and electricity supply. The programme marked Nepal’s first systematic measurement of medical oxygen quality using 8-parameter medical gas analyzers across multiple hospitals. Stakeholders also identified three national priorities: reforming maintenance systems with reliable spare parts supply, strengthening technical workforce capacity and ensuring dedicated electricity supply for PSA plants. The interaction workshop successfully gathered structured, multi-stakeholder inputs from Sudurpashchim Province — the second of two provincial consultations, following Koshi Province in December 2025 — completing a key milestone in the roadmap’s situation analysis phase. Findings from the consultations will now directly inform the National Oxygen Roadmap, aimed at strengthening mechanisms that can sustain the oxygen ecosystem in Nepal, ensuring equitable access to safe, medical-grade oxygen, and improving preparedness for future health emergencies. By building resilient, well-maintained and equitably accessible oxygen ecosystems, Nepal is enhancing its capacity to respond effectively to future influenza pandemics and other respiratory disease outbreaks.