Strengthening Health Systems and advancing UHC: Japan’s Leadership in Improving Access to Medical Oxygen

On August 20, 2025, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) co-hosted a thematic event with Unitaid titled “Strengthening Health Systems and Advancing UHC: Japan’s Leadership in Improving Access to Medical Oxygen” during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama, Kanagawa, from August 20 to 22.

Access to medical oxygen is critical for saving lives, yet it remains one of the most under-resourced areas of global health. With support from the Government of Japan, Unitaid is working to establish the first regional liquid medical oxygen production facilities in Africa, specifically in Kenya and Tanzania. Unitaid is also actively improving access to medical oxygen in humanitarian settings, particularly for infants and young children, contributing to life-saving care for newborns with respiratory distress. These efforts are playing a vital role in strengthening health systems in a sustainable way.

At this event, we discussed the strengthening of health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the future of expanding sustainable access to medical oxygen across Africa. The discussion included public-private technical cooperation between Unitaid and Japanese companies, as well as dialogues with local stakeholders, industry representatives, developers of medical oxygen equipment for infants and young children, and representatives from international organizations.