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Improving access to tools that enable providers to deliver more accurate and integrated screening, diagnosis, and care.

Improving access to tools that enable providers to deliver more accurate and integrated screening, diagnosis, and care.

Improving access to tools that assist providers to deliver more accurate and integrated screening, diagnoses, and care.

Oxygen generation plants are one of numerous ways oxygen can be produced and are the primary source of bulk oxygen for many health facilities across low- and middle-income countries. However, there are critical gaps in the oxygen generation plant market and operational challenges that put existing and newly procured plants at risk of falling into disrepair. Between 2021 and 2023, PATH undertook a series of analyses to better characterize the oxygen generation plant market and its ownership costs by:Estimating the total cost of ownership, particularly related to operating costs, of oxygen generation plants.Evaluating the feasibility of standardizing oxygen generation plant sizes.Estimating the size of the oxygen generation plant market.These analyses demonstrate that operating expenditure comprises the majority of the total cost of ownership and should be a core component of oxygen generation plant budgets. However, at present, many health facilities across LMIC have limited resources to sustainably operate oxygen generation plants. This indicates that, although the oxygen generation plant market can expand to immediately supply approximately 200 additional facilities, there is a strong need to invest in oxygen generation plant operating capacity (e.g., enhancing understanding of operating best practices, increasing and retaining skilled workforce, etc.) before purchasing any new plants. Once adequate budgets are allocated and sufficient operating capacity is developed, new oxygen generation plant procurements can be standardized to three or four sizes without compromising the ability to meet the majority of estimated oxygen needs. By reducing the number of plant sizes, additional efficiency gains can be realized for both manufacturers and buyers—such as reduced lead times, optimized production schedules, price discounts, and simplified plant management.

Environmental surveillance (ES) is critical for improved epidemic preparedness and response and for control of vaccine-preventable diseases. One current gap in the implementation of ES for multiple pathogens in low- and middle-income countries is the lack of standardization of methodology for different pathogens and between laboratories.The Environmental Surveillance Quality Assurance for Low-Resource Settings project aimed to build consensus on the standard needed for ES for multiple pathogens and use cases. The aim of this work was to define recommendations on best practices and characteristics of quality controls that can be applied to all. The project also explored potential pathways for commercializing internal quality control panels and developing external quality assessment programs.