Green hospital building construction is sprawling its nexus in Middle East

The targets call for a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and a Net Zero level by 2050. By establishing these targets, the DoH hopes to guide the Emirate's healthcare sustainability efforts and quicken the pace of ecosystem-wide alignment.

The infrastructure, operations, and healthcare waste are the three main pillars of the Department of Health's healthcare sustainability strategy, which is broken down into long- and short-term targets. The Department of Health (DoH) will collaborate closely with healthcare facilities to facilitate the sector's adoption of green building approaches, such as the use of renewable energy sources and the use of recycled and natural materials during hospital construction and upkeep.

"DoH continues to lead the sector's sustainability strategy by assuring the availability of a strong roadmap and by equipping the healthcare ecosystem with the means to achieve sustainable operations," Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary of DoH, said. The sustainability targets unveiled today aim to pave the way for future strategic objectives that will aid in the improvement of future generations' quality of life and the security of the Emirate's healthcare system. We are dedicated to maintaining our focus on making all levels of our organization's operations more conscientious and inventive, which reflects Abu Dhabi's status as a top medical tourism destination.

Health care will receive the Department's backing as it strives to be a leader in sustainable practices in areas including chemical use, food and supply procurement, transportation, and water use, and the Department will also work to ensure that locally grown, healthy food is encouraged and supported.

The Department of Health (DoH) has issued new guidelines in an effort to help healthcare facilities reduce, process, and safely dispose of healthcare waste in light of the global focus on waste management.

"The introduction of the healthcare ecosystem's sustainability targets will allow us to develop a robust governance model for Green Hospitals across the Emirate, over the next few years," said Hind Al Zaabi, Executive Director of Healthcare Facilities at DoH. Together with our industry allies, we are creating a system of certification and labelling for "Green" hospitals in Abu Dhabi. In addition, the healthcare quality index in the Emirate, known as "Muashir," will be supplemented by a new sustainability index called "Emirald Muashir" to guarantee consistent implementation of these standards and encourage healthy competition across the industry. After "Emiral Muashir" is released, hospitals will be able to earn certifications that demonstrate how well they've incorporated sustainability principles and practises.

In the short term, the Department will provide the sector with access to worldwide networks like the International Hospital Federation and Global Green and Healthy Hospitals to provide them with the training they need to learn about and explore the topic of sustainability over the next year. At the same time, the Department of Health plans to increase its ties and collaborations with prominent worldwide organisations in order to share its knowledge and skills in sustainability with them.

The Department of Health (DoH) has just released the "Part S-Sustainability Guidelines" on the Stem website. These guidelines are meant to help the healthcare industry reach its sustainability goals and make a positive impact on the Emirate's infrastructure and environment. There are three major tiers to the DoH Health Facility Guidelines, and the first of these tiers will soon become necessary for all healthcare facilities, whether they are brand new or already in operation.

The Department of Health (DoH) will collaborate closely with other stakeholders in the healthcare system to reevaluate current prescription procedures and implement effective methods for managing pharmaceutical waste in the Emirate. Additionally, the ecosystem is urged to cut down on water use and increase the use of environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

The United Arab Emirates' hospital has earned the region's first-ever top Green Building accreditation

One of the major green building certification programmes in the world has awarded its highest rating to a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, making it the first hospital in the Middle East to get this honour.

Platinum certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED EBOM) rating system was granted to Zulekha Hospital Sharjah by the United States Green Building Council. This system recognises excellence in green building conception, development, exploitation, and upkeep.

"Becoming the first healthcare organisation awarded Platinum LEED certified in the Middle East is a testimony to our long-term dedication to being an environmentally conscious and responsible business," stated Taher Shams, Managing Director of Zulekha Hospitals.

We are honoured to receive this recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council and remain committed to our mission of protecting the health and safety of our patients and the community at large through the provision of superior healthcare services and the proactive maintenance of a healthy natural environment.

Sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in operations, and regional priority credits are just some of the categories that businesses must excel in to receive the LEED certification. To date, only three hospitals in the United States have earned the Platinum level of accreditation.

During the construction process, Shams said, "we did an initial assessment and integrated various unique sustainable features into the facility to produce a highly sustainable building that symbolises our devotion to the environment."

There are both outpatient and inpatient services available at Zulekha Hospital Sharjah, making it a fully functional hospital and diagnostic centre. In 1992, the hospital opened with 30 beds and basic capabilities for gynaecology, obstetrics, surgery, medicine, and paediatrics; currently, the hospital has 32 specialties and 150 in-patient beds.

Zulekha Hospital Sharjah, located on a sprawling 240,000 square feet, employs more than 1,800 people, including 300 licenced medical physicians, 1,000 registered nurses, and a slew of other medical professionals.