What Is Sustainable Healthcare and How Does It Impact Our Lives?

Modern healthcare systems save lives, but it also contributes 4.4% to global greenhouse gas emissions. As our society becomes more ecologically conscious, making greener lifestyle choices has led to a demand for more sustainable healthcare approaches. 

But what exactly is sustainable healthcare?

Sustainable healthcare is a healthcare system that seeks to provide high-quality patient treatment in ways that do not adversely impact the environment. Thanks to innovators and advocates, moving in this direction is possible, giving us a mindful way to get well. The Islamic Medical Association of North America (MANA) supports this cause. We continuously look for ways to make this change happen. 

Let’s first confront the facts of how healthcare systems contribute to ecological degradation. This will allow us to address the dilemma with a clearer perspective and stronger conviction. 

What Makes Healthcare Ecologically Unfriendly? 

It is important to understand the relevant causes so we can be more open to solutions. Here are the various aspects of medical care operations that contribute to environmental harm:

Energy-Intensive Hospital Facilities and Equipment 

Hospital operations require high energy use for continuous lighting, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation. Hospital equipment like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ECGs, etc. also rely on electricity to operate.

Moreover, other equipment like anesthetic inhalers, especially those with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. 

Pharmaceutical Processes

Pharmaceutical companies employ chemical processes to manufacture medicines which are resource-heavy and carbon-intensive. From testing and trial phases, pharmaceutical production—including supply chain processes and single-use supplies—adds to the problem. 

While beneficial to public health, the pharmaceutical sector contributes to environmental degradation. 

Medical Transportation and Logistics

Medical transportation—including basic and advanced life support vehicles or ambulances and non-emergency medical vehicles—contributes to pollution and fuel use. There are operators who are shifting to e-vehicles but the majority of transportation is still dependent on gas. 

Laboratory Research

The equipment used and the controlled environments in medical research laboratories are energy-intensive. They use power and materials that contribute to pollution and waste.

Waste Generation and Disposal

Healthcare facilities generate large volumes of medical and plastic waste that harm the environment. The disposal system of plastic and biowaste compounds the problem as they end up in landfills or are processed through incineration which releases carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.  

IMANA Supports Sustainable Healthcare

IMANA encourages sustainable healthcare by intensifying public awareness regarding the environmental effects of healthcare processes and systems. We educate stakeholders and the public through our network to create changes in policies and practices. Together, we can champion health and well-being without destroying our planet.

We encourage and teach healthcare professionals through our education and mentorship programs to make patient management more efficient and effective. 

This includes educating patients on the importance of prevention through medical screening and healthy habits. This minimizes the need for long and complex treatments and repeated appointments while enabling telemedicine consultations for off-site patient management. 

Empowering the patient to manage their condition at home through the doctor’s guidance can contribute to sustainable healthcare. It means less fuel, less equipment, and shorter recovery times which benefit patients and the environment.  

A Healthy Symbiosis

In highly industrialized economies like the United States, the threats of climate change and environmental decline undermine medical or economic advancements. 

An unhealthy workforce affects labor and business performance while natural disasters hurt the economy and compromise people’s jobs, safety, and stability. 

Sustainable healthcare underscores the importance of the relationship between an individual’s wellness and the wellness of their environment. Caring for the environment positively affects our health, quality of life, and our society as a whole. On the other hand, contributing to its degradation threatens all of these and our future.

Putting an End To the Vicious Cycle

Human and environmental health are undeniably linked.

Unclean air causes respiratory-related issues like allergies, cough, asthma, and exposure to toxic compounds. Toxic substances can trigger free radicals in our bodies and lead to cellular damage. 

An individual develops an illness through constant exposure to unclean air, goes to a hospital for treatment, inadvertently contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, gets exposed to harmful environments, and the cycle goes on. 

Somewhere along this cycle, sustainable healthcare can help stop the worsening scenario. IMANA believes that we can make positive change happen by respecting our role as stewards of our health and environment. 

A Better Way To Wellness

We don’t have to choose between saving lives and saving the environment. There is a pressing need for a shift in the mindset of all stakeholders. That is, seeking treatment and recovery for a human being does not have to be done at the expense of our planet. 

Together, we need to support initiatives and developments that can help make sustainable healthcare the new paradigm of medical care on a global scale, starting with our communities:

• Use of green buildings for healthcare facilities
• Efficient use of resources to reduce waste
• Promoting preventive care 
• Sustainable government policies 
• Community engagement and social responsibility 
• Use of renewable energy sources in healthcare and related industries
• Advancement of communication technologies for telemedicine

These and more can help steer us towards sustainable healthcare, benefiting not only human and environmental health, but the future generations. 

Join IMANA in Supporting Sustainable Healthcare

At IMANA, we deliver healthcare services, particularly medical relief to disaster-hit communities worldwide with the principles of sustainable healthcare guiding us. You can join our mission by becoming a volunteer or supporting us financially. 

Together, let’s bring environmental consciousness to the public, especially in places where the ill effects of climate change are disrupting lives. We can help bring healing to humanity and the planet today.