Geneva Health Forum Channel

The activities of the healthcare system, which represent a major part of the economy, have a significant impact on the environment. Depending on the country, healthcare systems are responsible for between 3% and 10% of national carbon emissions. Numerous studies in Europe and the United States have investigated this issue, with ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare facilities.

In countries with limited resources, the debate is still in its infancy. Healthcare systems are organized differently, and the solutions developed in Europe may not align with the needs of LMICs. Challenges such as waste management, energy efficiency, and supply chain optimization are at the forefront of concerns.

Rather than seeing environmental measures as new constraints, there is an opportunity to leverage these challenges to drive transformative strategies within the healthcare sector.

This session of the GHF will delve into the environmental impact of healthcare systems in LMICs, seeking to pinpoint obstacles and opportunities for integrating environmental concerns into efforts to revitalize healthcare infrastructure.