Reducing Healthcare’s Carbon Footprint: How Hospitals Can Lead the  Way in Sustainability  

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Anastasia Kourti, a third year medical student at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a member of the Greek Women in STEM network. 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.

Upon hearing the word “hospital”, the image that comes to mind is that of a patient  receiving appropriate care to address their health issue. However, how would you react if  you learned that the very environment dedicated to healing is one of the planet’s largest  pollutants? Recent data from the WHO reveals that global health system emissions  account for 5% of total greenhouse gases. We are therefore faced with a moral and  professional challenge: how successful is a system when it attempts to heal a person while  harming the environment in which they live?  

The healthcare sector emits pollutants at three levels: direct emissions (Scope 1) from fuel  combustion and anesthetic gases, indirect emissions (Scope 2) from the purchase of  electricity, and the supply chain (Scope 3), which constitutes the largest source. The  carbon footprint is multifactorial, affecting every aspect of clinical practice. The operating  room contributes significantly due to continuous ventilation, energy-intensive monitoring  equipment and inhaled anesthetics, such as desflurane, which is released almost entirely  into the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the extensive use of disposable materials (absorbent  pads, covers, gowns) burdens the environment. Finally, the movement of patients from  rural areas to fully equipped hospitals in urban centers further increases greenhouse gas  emissions.  

How can we build the sustainable hospitals of the future? A primary concern is the  promotion of prevention through primary healthcare and education on vaccinations,  thereby reducing consumption of resources. At the same time, limiting travel to urban  centers is achieved through telemedicine and the decentralization of services using green,  energy-autonomous mobile health units. In the operating room, preference is given to total  intravenous anesthesia or the use of low-flow sevoflurane, while avoiding desflurane.  Precise medication dosage and the usage of outpatient treatment rooms, where permitted,  are essential. Furthermore, optimizing ventilation systems and replacing disposables  (covers, absorbent mats) with high-quality reusable materials, through the individualized  assessment of each case, ensure the sustainability of clinical practice. Finally, further  research is required for technologies such as volatile anesthetic gas capture technology  (VCT) before their widespread implementation.  

Ultimately, we must understand that as doctors of the future, we need to approach patient  care holistically. The environment we inhabit directly impacts our health and vice versa,  creating an inextricable link. The climate crisis represents the greatest public health threat  of the 21st century and the medical community cannot remain a mere bystander. It is our  moral responsibility to evolve into critically thinking practitioners who are fully conscious of  every medical action and its environmental impact. Building a sustainable healthcare  system is no longer an option, but a mandatory commitment to protecting future  generations and our planet.

About the author

Anastasia Kourti is a third-year medical student who became deeply sensitized to the  environmental footprint of healthcare upon starting her clinical rotations. She is passionate  about integrating sustainability into surgery and advocates for eco-conscious clinical  practices that protect both patients and the planet.