First, do no harm: A call to action on World Environment Day

This World Environment Day , let's reimagine the cornerstone of medicine – the Hippocratic Oath - "first, do no harm" – to encompass the health of our planet. A thriving environment is the foundation for healthy people, and within the healthcare sector itself there lies a compelling opportunity to make a significant difference.

The truth is healthcare generates a large environmental footprint. It contributes over 4% of global CO2 emissions, exceeding the aviation and shipping industries combined[1]. We know climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are already harming millions - with the most vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of the burden[2].

This urgency coincides with an unacceptably high number of people lacking access to basic healthcare. The World Health Statistics report, highlights that while Universal Health Coverage expanded to include an additional 585 million more people, and 777 million more people are likely to be adequately protected during health emergencies by 2025, both still fall short of their one billion target.

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This protection is increasingly important as the effects of climate change and other global crises increasingly threaten health security. Which is why we cannot afford to choose progress over sustainability, or sustainability over more healthcare. We need more healthcare with less environmental impact.

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While it’s a dynamic and complicated issue; there are three big bets that will undoubtedly contribute significantly to taking the carbon out of healthcare.

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1.????? Embracing Circularity: A Sustainable Healthcare Ecosystem

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Imagine a future where medical devices are built to last, reducing waste and allowing for continuous improvement. At Philips, this vision is becoming a reality through our EcoDesign principles. Our focus is on durable, repairable, and upgradable equipment that keeps technology cutting-edge without the environmental burden.

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Circularity goes further. We're pioneering the recovery of valuable materials from retired devices and incorporating recycled materials into new ones. Our Philips Circular Edition portfolio allows customers to benefit from refurbished, upgraded and quality-tested technology at lower costs. In 2023 alone, over 11,500 systems or pieces of equipment were reclaimed, demonstrating the momentum behind this approach.

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This reduces reliance on virgin resources and minimizes manufacturing's impact. The business case is compelling too – durable, eco-designed devices save healthcare institutions money, and circular practices extend a technologies’ lifecycle. These savings can be reinvested in patient care and further innovation, while reducing the environmental impact of healthcare.

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2.????? Waste Reduction: Prioritising precision and remote care solutions

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Moving beyond reducing physical consumables and biohazardous waste, we must prioritise efficiency and precision. This means that we need to be critical about every step of the healthcare journey.

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For instance, CT scans, which are crucial for diagnosis, require significant energy. A single scan carries a carbon footprint equivalent to driving a car for almost 76 km[3]. Optimizing scans to avoid unnecessary re-scans, and shortening scanning time is crucial.

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The Philips Incisive CT is a prime example of the innovation we need in this space. With CT Smart Workflow, an entirely new package of AI enabled tools, the Incisive CT offers the industry’s fastest AI reconstruction, and automatic patient positioning to aid successful exams with fast results at low dose.

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Digitalization also offers compelling environmental benefits. For example, replacing physical visits with telemedicine appointments has shown to decrease carbon emissions by 40-70 times[4]. Smart digital tools, green software and network connectivity make it possible to shift care from resource-intensive clinical facilities to networked lower-cost settings and the home – giving more people access to care thereby delivering maximum value with minimum resources.

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In addition, the transition to cloud-, service- and software-based solutions also saves on materials and reduces CO? emissions. Research suggests that cloud-based data centres use 84% less power[5] and require only a quarter of the servers compared to on-premises infrastructure[6].

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While digital solutions aren't without environmental impact, it provides multiplying opportunity to do more with less.

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3.????? Empowering Everyone: Cascading responsibility for an ecosystem solution

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A substantial part of the carbon footprint of medical equipment stems from its energy consumption. Therefore, for energy-intensive facilities such as hospitals, switching to renewable energy can make a major impact. But that, is just the beginning.

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We recognize no single entity has all the answers. We need collaboration across industries – healthcare, technology, finance, energy – to develop and scale solutions that address the interconnected challenges of climate change and health. That is why we urgently need to explore new and complementary partnerships across value chains to decarbonize industries like healthcare for the generations to come.

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For instance, as part of our Green Supply Chain program, we carry out on-site assessments where we identify energy efficiency opportunities that enable our suppliers to make cost-effective carbon reductions. For example, their facilities may have outdated lighting systems, or insulation may be inadequate. Which offers areas for low-investment upgrades, with immediate and far-reaching environmental impacts.

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“First, Do No Harm" doesn't end with healthcare professionals, but is a call to action to every player across the health continuum to commit to making changes. That means procurement should consider energy-efficiency when acquiring new systems; technologist should switch-off unused systems; clinicians should minimise unnecessary tests; patients should prioritise remote-care; and we, at Philips, will continue to innovate to optimize the processes, productivity, performance and energy usage that goes into every solution.

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On this World Environment Day, let's unite for a sustainable future. Together, we can create a world where true health, encompassing both individual well-being and a healthy planet, is the norm.

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[1] Health Care without Harm (2019). Healthcare’s climate footprint: How the health sector contributes to the global climate crisis and opportunities for action.

[2] Climate change ( who.int )

[3] Equivalent to driving a petrol or diesel car, depending on model, for around 76km

[4] Holmner, A., Ebi, K. L., Lazuardi, L., & Nilsson, M. (2014). Carbon footprint of telemedicine solutions--unexplored opportunity for reducing carbon emissions in the health sector. PloS one, 9(9), e105040. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0105040

[5]? https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/sustainability/

[6] NRDC (2014). Data Center Efficiency Assessment. Scaling Up Energy Efficiency Across the Data Center Industry: Evaluating Key Drivers & Barriers