Medical gases in limelight at gasworld conference

Medical gases and their importance both in the wider healthcare sector and the African healthcare market were under the spotlight at the gasworld African Conference recently, highlighting the role of these gases as medicinal products and how careful control is required.

Speaking on day two of the groundbreaking conference, an event which Specialty Gas Report attended, Quality & Regulatory Affairs Manager for African Oxygen Limited (Afrox), Innocentia Mbatha, discussed Medical Filling Operations and delivered an insightful speech.

Mbatha drew on extensive experience in the field of pharmaceutical standards and medical gases, exuding expertise and drawing attention to the importance of such gases in the healthcare sector.

“Thank you very much ladies and gentleman it’s a privilege for me to stand in front of you. I basically would like to talk about medical gases in general and I’d like to talk about some requirements and legislation around medical gases,” Mbatha began.

“Okay so what is different about medical gases – medical gases are different because they are given to people who are totally dependent on them, people who need medication and people who are in hospital,” she explained.

Emphasising both the role of medical gases and the potential for danger if not regulated and treated correctly, Mbatha said, “So if we get it wrong here there is a potential that someone could die. It is generally considered a medicinal product.”

Having spoken of the significance of these gases and products, Afrox’s Mbatha erred toward the conference’s African theme and discussed medical gases as medicinal products in Africa and the standards that are applicable in this area.

“We do have counties where medical gases have not been given status as medicinal products. So what is happening in countries like Africa? Before you sell you have to get a product registration certificate and with regards to the manufacturing facilities you need to have trained personnel.”

Specialty Gas Report was present at the gasworld conference a fortnight ago and the publication’s Henry Grieco provided a presentation at the event, underlining not only the applications of specialty gases but also how this field is affected by emerging gas markets such as Africa.

Growth markets like Africa are apparently changing and evolving the way specialty gases are supplied, as they impact upon the mode of supply and revive the Make vs Buy argument, Grieco told the 125 attending delegates.