Gas Suppliers Face Soaring Demand for Oxygen to Treat Coronavirus Patients
March 26 2020 - 8:18AM
Dow Jones News
By James R. Hagerty
Two of the world's biggest suppliers of medical oxygen, Air
Liquide SA and Air Products & Chemicals Inc., say they are
exploring ways to ensure supplies of the gas remain sufficient for
treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Most of the anxiety over respiratory treatment during the
coronavirus pandemic has centered on a shortage of ventilators. But
respiratory therapists rely on purified medical oxygen delivered to
patients through those devices. Supplying enough oxygen to meet
soaring demand is critical and may prove complicated.
"Overall, we feel well-prepared" to meet that demand, said Diana
Schillag, a vice president at Paris-based Air Liquide, which
supplies medical gases in the U.S., Europe, Asia and elsewhere. "We
have the logistics in place."
In Italy, Air Liquide said, it has been able to meet demand of
as much as five times the normal level at some hospitals.
"Air Products is not currently experiencing production shortages
in our businesses, including medical oxygen," said Art George, a
spokesman for the Allentown, Pa., company. "Where we can around the
world, we are building inventory."
Matthias Dachwald, a spokesman for a third global medical-gas
supplier, Linde PLC, based in Guildford, England, declined to
comment on the outlook for oxygen supplies.
Air Liquide and Air Products said they were looking at ways to
avert bottlenecks. In Britain, for example, Mr. George said Air
Products is working with the military to train drivers to deliver
oxygen in case that becomes necessary.
Oxygen is delivered in bulk, liquid form to hospitals, where it
is stored in tanks and converted to a gas for use in ventilators.
It also is delivered in metal cylinders for use in homes or
health-care facilities where patients need oxygen while moving
around.
Air Liquide said it is urging customers to return empty
cylinders more frequently so they can be refilled and sent where
most needed. In addition, the company might seek regulatory
approval to convert larger, heavier cylinders -- typically used for
industrial gases -- for delivery of medical oxygen instead. The
company also may ask for approval to extend the period between
required tests of cylinders so more are available.
Meanwhile, medical-gas suppliers are installing new pipes to
deliver oxygen to more beds in hospitals and in some cases to tents
or other temporary care facilities. In Spain, Air Liquide said, it
has deployed more than 100 people to work on increased
oxygen-piping capacity. Some of those people are helping install
oxygen pipes at a Madrid conference center being used as a
temporary hospital.
The industrial- and medical-gas business is dominated by global
giants. In 2018, Linde AG of Germany and Praxair Inc. of the U.S.
merged to form Linde PLC. Air Liquide acquired U.S.-based Airgas
Inc. in 2016.
Write to James R. Hagerty at bob.hagerty@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 26, 2020 08:03 ET (12:03 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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