COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infection causing mild or moderate disease in 80% of people affected. In those patients that do become symptomatic, approximately 15% develop severe disease requiring oxygen support, and 5% have respiratory failure complications according to WHO Clinical Guidance on COVID-19. Oxygen equipment and treatment are therefore critical components of a country’s effective emergency response to COVID-19, and also contribute to a country’s pandemic preparedness for future outbreaks.
Oxygen equipment
This type of equipment is a non-invasive way of providing oxygen to patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Such supplemental oxygen is the first essential step for the treatment of severe cases of COVID-19 patients.
The Global Fund encourages implementing countries to move swiftly and prepare to strategically deploy oxygen equipment, consistent with World Health Organization guidance.
Principal Recipients with approved funding can acquire oxygen equipment that we are currently procuring through wambo.org or with local channels after consultation with Global Fund Country Teams.
Further information is available in the COVID-19 Response Mechanism Technical Information Note and the COVID-19 Response Mechanism Guidelines.
The Global Fund is partnering with UNICEF to source oxygen products. The current product list, including pricing and a link to the technical specification can be found below. Additional products are added over time. Please check the document below regularly for updates.
- PPM Reference Price List: Oxygen Products
download in English - List of Medical Oxygen Generators Classified According to the Quality Assurance Requirements
download in English
Laboratory and health equipment
Laboratory and other health equipment, including X-ray machines and sequencing analyzers, are also increasingly requested for the response to COVID-19. Please check the document below regularly for updates.
- PPM Reference Price List: Laboratory and health equipment
download in English
Treatment
WHO issued Guidance on the use of corticosteroids for COVID-19 in September 2020, confirming that existing corticosteroids such as dexamethasone have shown to be effective in reducing the severity of the disease among critically ill patients. Dexamethasone is a widely available corticosteroid on the WHO essential medicines list, and as per Global Fund QA Policy.
Following WHO recommendation, the Global Fund is making dexamethasone treatment available for procurement in oral tablets and injectable dosage form. Principal Recipients with approved COVID-19 Response Mechanism funding can access dexamethasone treatment through wambo.org or with other procurement channels.
See this update for more purchasing information.
- PPM Reference Price List for COVID-19 Pharmaceuticals
download in English
Lead times
The most up-to-date lead time information can be found in: