Sustainability practices in healthcare procurement

There’s a vicious circle in healthcare that we need to break.?

Despite our best intentions, hospitals and the supply chain that make up Canada’s overall healthcare system create significant environmental pollution which in turn causes serious health impacts for many patients.?

The damage our health sector causes the planet leads to a chain reaction of negative public health consequences – as more people become ill because of climate change and environmental pollution, they require more treatment. Increased patient demand adds even more pressure on our already-strained system, which also contributes to a larger carbon footprint.?

While Canada may be internationally renowned for the quality of the healthcare we deliver, the environmental impact of our health sector isn’t nearly as flattering. Canada is among the worst performers across the globe in terms of greenhouse gas emissions tied to healthcare, coming in as the world’s third highest polluter per capita, according to recent research.?

The research found that healthcare is responsible for nearly five per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions, as well as more than 200,000 tons of other pollutants, resulting in 23,000 years of life lost every year from disability or early death. Emissions tied to Canada’s health sector have roughly the equivalent carbon footprint of 514 coal-fired power plants.?

Fortunately, a growing number of hospitals and healthcare organizations are making environmental sustainability a higher priority.??

As a national healthcare procurement organization, HealthPRO Canada works with our network of more than 1,300 hospitals, healthcare facilities and suppliers to come up with innovative ways to reduce their impact on the environment and shrink our health system’s overall carbon footprint.??

Here are some ways hospitals can begin taking action to go green:?

Explore Pharmaceutical Options?

Not all pharmaceuticals carry the same environmental footprint, even though they may be interchangeable in terms of their medicinal effectiveness. Whenever possible, hospitals should look at pharmaceutical options that are greenest.?

For example, some aerosol inhalers used in the treatment of common conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. HealthPRO Canada has created a tool that can be used by hospitals to track their inhaler usage, measure its carbon footprint and compare alternative inhaler options to see the carbon footprint and costs associated with them.??

In another example, there’s an encouraging movement by many hospitals across the country to the shift from using the common anesthetic gas desflurane to sevoflurane during surgical procedures because its global warming impact is 40 to 50 times lower. Administering desflurane for one hour has the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions impact of driving a car for 320 kilometres.?

Northwest Territories has eliminated desflurane use entirely, followed by Newfoundland with a decrease of 39 per cent, Ontario at 27 per cent and B.C. at 23 per cent.?

Increase Virtual Care?

Any time a patient doesn’t have to travel to a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office by vehicle, it reduces carbon emissions. While the use of virtual care increased significantly during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has dropped off significantly. When appropriate, virtual visits can be an important tool to cut carbon emissions.??

Virtual care is an essential tool in our effort to create a more sustainable healthcare system. Beyond the environmental benefits, it can expand access to services in remote or underserved areas, ensuring patients receive timely care without geographical barriers.??

Telemedicine and telepharmacy is also increasing access to specialist care and bringing in healthcare providers who are in short supply in certain areas. By facilitating digital consultations and services, they further decrease the necessity for travel, aligning healthcare delivery with the goals of environmental sustainability and healthcare equity.?As our healthcare systems evolve, integrating sustainable practices like virtual care can significantly contribute to a greener, more equitable future.?

Green Procurement?

In addition to improving sustainability through their own policies and actions, hospitals can also exert influence on the broader supply chain through green procurement policies that reward suppliers for reducing their impact on the environment.?

HealthPRO Canada has created a Sustainability Scorecard that measures a supplier’s performance in three categories – environmental, economic and social – to help hospitals make more informed decisions that improve environmental sustainability.?

All stakeholders in the healthcare supply chain have a responsibility to do more to reduce our impact on the planet and the toll it takes on patients. The first step is learning about the problem and understanding our role in it. Only then can we take action to stop the harm caused as we heal.?

On April 30th, we will be hosting our 3rd Annual Sustainability Rounds where we tackle some of these issues and share real strategies to implement carbon-conscious purchasing decisions in healthcare procurement.?

To learn more about HealthPRO Canada’s commitment to Sustainability, please contact [email protected] or visit HealthPRO Canada/Sustainability.

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