Bangladesh Faces Critical Shortage in Medical Oxygen Supply Infrastructure

A high-level policy dialogue focusing on medical oxygen availability was recently organized by Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) in Bangladesh to address critical healthcare infrastructure challenges facing the nation. The academic event brought together various stakeholders to discuss pressing shortages and operational bottlenecks within the country's medical oxygen supply systems, drawing attention to findings published by notable organizations including Prothom Alo, The Lancet, ICDDR,B, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations, and Dhaka Medical College.

During the dialogue, alarming statistics regarding nationwide healthcare access and oxygen availability were presented. Research indicates that a staggering 70 percent of people in Bangladesh do not receive necessary medical oxygen when required. Furthermore, when examining broader healthcare-seeking behaviors, studies show that out of every 100 individuals, 46 do not visit a hospital or clinic for various reasons. Among those who do seek institutional care, 8 percent arrive at hospitals only to find that the facilities are not prepared to deliver the required medical services.

Additional hurdles identified during the assessment reveal that another 8 percent of patients are entirely unable to obtain the necessary healthcare services upon arrival. Furthermore, 8 percent of individuals report negative experiences where they do not receive quality-standard care. These compounding factors highlight deep structural deficiencies in emergency medical response capabilities across healthcare institutions throughout the country, leaving vulnerable patients without reliable access to life-saving treatments.

Regarding daily consumption and demand, experts noted that normal operations require between 110 and 120 tonnes of medical oxygen every single day across Bangladesh. However, the system experienced unprecedented strain during the global health crisis. Confirmed facts from the research period show that during the coronavirus pandemic, the daily peak demand for medical oxygen soared dramatically to reach 400 tonnes per day, testing the absolute limits of national production and distribution networks.

To understand the current state of infrastructure, researchers from ICDDR,B conducted a comprehensive evaluation in 2025 assessing the operational status of 101 medical oxygen plants across Bangladesh, amid broader plans by authorities to establish 99 additional medical oxygen plants. The findings of the 2025 assessment painted a grim picture of current operational readiness: only 34 plants, accounting for 33.7 percent, were found to be fully operational and working. Meanwhile, 47 plants representing 46.5 percent were technically functional but were not running at the time of the evaluation, and a concerning 20 plants—equal to 19.8 percent—were completely unusable.