Sustainable Healthcare Systems: A Prescription for A Healthier Future

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Maryum Imran, a 5th Year MBBS student at Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

With a rapidly growing world population and an increased average lifespan globally, there is a greater burden on healthcare systems than ever before. With such burden comes sky-high healthcare costs, tonnes of medical waste, and unequal distribution of healthcare services. The very system that was created to make us healthier is draining both us and the planet dry. However, the solution is simple; implementation of a sustainable healthcare system, one which is cost-effective, eco-friendly, provides high-quality care and promotes health equity. 

Recent climate change has highlighted the urgent need for sustainable healthcare systems. The escalating frequency and intensity with which natural disasters, such as heatwaves, floods, and forest fires, are occurring have immediate and significant effects on public health, resulting in an increase in the incidence of ailments, such as heat strokes and asthma. Moreover, the healthcare industry itself plays a substantial role in the climate crisis, being the fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases worldwide (1). Sustainable healthcare systems strive to offset these consequences by decreasing their carbon emissions, minimising the generation of medical waste, and enhancing resilience against medical difficulties caused by climate change. Some examples of sustainable practices that can easily be implemented in healthcare settings include the use of renewable energy sources via the implementation of solar panels, the use of geothermal heating and cooling systems, replacing current lighting with energy-conserving alternatives, reducing the use of single-use items and replacing them with reusable products where possible, installing low-flow faucets and showerheads throughout hospitals, promoting the use of public transport for staff, and implementing electronic health records (EHRs) to reduce paper waste. 

Implementing sustainable practices, such as constructing energy-efficient hospital facilities, offering telehealth services, and employing waste reduction programmes, can ultimately save the hospital a lot of money in terms of utility bills and decreased need for physical infrastructure. This money can then be reinvested into the healthcare system to improve healthcare services and accessibility. Furthermore, sustainable healthcare systems can advance social justice by concentrating on health inequities and guaranteeing that marginalised individuals are not neglected. Technology plays a crucial role in such systems, with advancements like EHRs, telemedicine, and wearable health equipment, reducing paper consumption, transportation costs, and healthcare costs, while allowing remote patient monitoring and timely intervention.

The process of shifting towards sustainable healthcare systems is not one without hurdles. These include financial strains, resistance to change, and lack of awareness. Nevertheless, these challenges may be surmounted via the implementation of policy reforms, comprehensive education and training programmes for healthcare professionals, and initiatives to raise awareness among the public.

By integrating sustainable practices, healthcare systems can effectively address the health consequences of climate change, diminish their own role in environmental deterioration, and guarantee their ability to deliver high-quality care despite current and future climate-related disruptions. By providing both medical treatment and environmental protection, sustainable healthcare systems are laying the groundwork for a future in which the two go hand in hand.

Reference:

1. https://noharm-global.org/documents/health-care-climate-footprint-report

About the author

Maryum Imran is a 5^th Year MBBS student at Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. Despite being born in Pakistan, she moved to Malaysia at an early age where she spent the better part of her life. After completing her A levels, she returned to Pakistan to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Maryum is interested in the field of Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Paediatrics. To de-stress from the demands of Med school, Maryum takes to the internet and writes riveting fanfiction. When she finds the time, she immensely enjoys travelling to different countries.