Call for Proposals: Enhancing and Sustaining Access to Medical Oxygen Innovations

Deadline Date: November 22, 2024

 Donor Name: Unitaid

 Grant Size: Not Available

Unitaid is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals aimed at improving access to medical oxygen by introducing technology innovations and piloting novel business models.

This call seeks to address long-standing design issues with oxygen production and distribution technologies, as well as improve upon business models that are not fit-for-purpose. By introducing improved products and models, Unitaid aims to ensure equitable access to effective oxygen therapy, aiming to save lives and prevent avoidable deaths. While recognizing the potential for cost savings in health systems and for patients, Unitaid acknowledges that trade-offs between cost and life-saving interventions may be necessary.

Specifically, Unitaid seeks to:

• Support the introduction of new technologies with the potential to significantly improve access to oxygen in LMICs through more cost-effective and operationally feasible designs.
• Accelerate the adoption of new business models that can sustain existing respiratory care equipment

Objectives

• Unitaid is launching a Call for Proposals focused on the following objectives:
  • Facilitate introduction of novel oxygen technologies in LMICs: Assess and expand on recent innovations in large-capacity production and medical gas pipeline systems, which have limited uptake in LMICs, to better evaluate their feasibility and establish the most cost-effective use cases under real-world conditions.
  • Expand access to oxygen solutions with new business models: Pilot and evaluate new business models, to sustain pandemic investments and optimize respiratory care equipment, including identifying channels for future uptake.

Areas

• Proposals should include at least one of the two areas listed below:
  • Area 1: Introducing technology innovations in oxygen production and distribution for LMICs
    • To thoroughly assess the potential for these systems to be scaled in LMIC markets, Unitaid seeks proposals focused on developing a proof of concept for two specific technologies:
      • Solid-state, large-capacity oxygen production solutions that reduce the operational complexities of existing on-site systems;
      • Medical Gas Piping System (MGPS) innovations aiming to simplify and reduce the cost of installing distribution systems in both existing and new health facilities, especially at secondary and tertiary levels.
    • The goal is to understand whether/how these technologies can scale in LMIC markets to address ongoing access challenges. Proponents should outline how their activities will inform potential use cases and support product introduction.
  • Area 2: Implementation and evaluation of business models to sustain oxygen investments
    • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global procurement of oxygen-related products reached unprecedented levels, providing significant benefits to LMICs. In these settings, operating and maintaining complex systems like Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants have historically posed significant challenges for the health system.
    • These challenges include frequent equipment breakdowns, long waiting times for replacement parts, and eventual discontinued use of the equipment. The influx of respiratory care products during the pandemic provides an opportunity to avoid these issues in the future. To do so, innovative operational approaches are now required to ensure the sustainability of these investments over the medium and long term and provide an avenue for further expansion based on the experience gained.
    • Unitaid seeks the submission of proposals to pilot the development, implementation, and evaluation of business models aimed at supporting the operation and maintenance of respiratory care technologies. Examples of such models could include, but are not limited to, umbrella management agreements, batched service level agreements, lease-back programs, or other innovative approaches to manage oxygen systems. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Your proposal is eligible for consideration if it complies with the following criteria:
  • Has global impact
  • Represents an innovative approach
  • Is sustainable
  • Is scalable
  • Targets low-income and middle-income countries

For more information, visit Unitaid.