Green Hospitals… Towards Sustainability in Healthcare

Green hospitals is a concept that integrates sustainability initiatives to reshape the construction of healthcare facilities, fostering a more environmentally-friendly healthcare system. The medical sector is increasingly transitioning towards environmentally friendly practices, benefiting patients and healthcare providers. The terms “sustainable hospitals” and “eco-friendly” have gained momentum, especially in the Arab world and Gulf countries. 

This shift underscores hospitals’ vital role in diminishing environmental pollution and emissions. Nations are implementing comprehensive approaches to ensure healthcare facilities meet sustainability standards. At the heart of these efforts is fostering environmental health in the healthcare sector, which strengthens global health systems. Governments and health ministries are advancing plans to transform healthcare facilities into green institutions. This involves adopting green building concepts, using sustainable and recyclable materials, and switching to clean, renewable energy sources. The private sector is also pivotal in this transition. Their efforts have introduced numerous initiatives to bolster medical sustainability and reduce pollution, enhancing the patient experience. By upholding sustainability standards, private hospitals can improve their community reputation, attract more patients, and potentially earn international environmental accreditations.

Global Trend

Green or sustainable buildings in the healthcare sector prioritize adopting the highest environmental and health standards. This aims to cultivate a medical environment that equally emphasizes health and environmental protection. While the upfront cost of embracing these green practices might appear steep, they have consistently proven to be a wise investment for hospitals by cutting long-term energy expenses.

The prevailing global trend is the design of future hospitals with environmental considerations at the forefront. This involves the incorporation of natural lighting, strategies for noise reduction, and the integration of green spaces. Such a trend aligns with the broader movement pushing for the rapid evolution of green construction in hospitals and medical facilities worldwide. Especially considering these establishments account for approximately 5% of harmful emissions, there’s a growing emphasis on weaving healthcare services into the green evolution narrative.

Under stringent sustainability guidelines, green hospitals emphasize efficient energy and water use, lean on renewable energy sources, and ensure the safe disposal of medical waste and hazardous materials. Their operation also incorporates eco-friendly products with an overarching goal to curtail carbon footprints and the emission of greenhouse gases from combustion activities, which are known to have serious health implications. One ambitious objective of green hospitals is to achieve net-zero emissions. This is realized by revamping buildings’ structural design and revisiting the facility’s consumption patterns. There’s an inherent understanding that healthcare waste harbors microscopic organisms detrimental to health. These microorganisms can potentially transmit infections to patients within the facility, healthcare workers, and the broader community.

Another concerning element is the proliferation of drug-resistant pathogens within these establishments. Given these challenges, there’s an imperative for hospital management to evolve their facilities into environmentally responsible entities.  This necessitates significant overhauls in work procedures, equipment utilization, offered services, and the broader ambiance and infrastructure of the hospital.

Features and Benefits

Sustainable hospitals offer numerous advantages for patients, staff, and the wider community. These facilities:

• Utilize clean energy sources like solar or wind power.
• Minimize medical waste and promote recycling.
• Ensure safe chemical and healthcare waste management.
• Enhance environmental awareness among their users.
• Provide healthier environments through efficient energy use, improved indoor air and water quality, advanced waste management, and eco-friendly lighting and ventilation systems.
• Balance environmental, economic, and social needs.
• Safely manage medications and dispose of expired drugs.

A genuinely sustainable healthcare facility should prioritize energy and water efficiency, responsibly manage hazardous waste and chemicals, have a food safety protocol, and reduce carbon emissions. Monitoring and mitigating emissions, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, is essential due to their health implications.  Ultimately, the move towards sustainable hospitals requires top-tier environmental initiatives, focusing on energy conservation, waste recycling, and ensuring the well-being of all stakeholders.