Sustainable Public health solutions in Middle East going to be the driving factor of 2023

According to healthcare executives, hospitals are constantly looking upstream to identify ways to lower their resource use and hence their carbon footprint and increase their positive impact on the environment.

This news comes as the country prepares to host the annual COP28 climate meeting, which will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30th to December 12th.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a sustainable healthcare system as one that promotes, protects, and restores human health in a way that reduces adverse environmental impacts and maximises potential to improve environmental quality for the benefit of present and future generations.

"As a medical education and healthcare delivery business, we have always been focused on building a robust, resilient, and sustainable healthcare system to endure continuous environmental difficulties," Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder and President of Thumbay Group, stated in response to the news.

Dr. Moideen continued, "We also did a pilot project of planting trees and were thrilled to see that the initiative increased the environmental impact of our service as well as patient wellbeing and team collaboration."

Despite the unprecedented challenges brought on by the pandemic, many healthcare organisations have continued to invest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives in order to lessen the environmental impact of their operations. This includes the creation of site-specific programmes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve waste management.

According to Mark Adams, FRSA, CEO (Interim), NMC Healthcare, "social sustainability in a health environment pertains to the capacity of hospitals and healthcare systems to increase the quality of life and improve wellbeing in the community, and that has been their primary focus."

According to Adams, "we issued the first set of ESG reports in 2018 and 2019 and kicked off the path as pioneers in Sustainability Reporting in the region."

Adams elaborated, saying that, "sustainability demands analysing systems, including infrastructure and organisational practises, and implementing steps in line with effective budget planning" because a healthcare institution requires dependable and resilient engineering and medical operations.

Among the ten United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) that Aster Healthcare has included into its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies is Climate Action. To align with emerging climate-policy engagement, Aster DM Healthcare recently signed the Action Declaration alongside 50 of the world's largest corporations, according to Dr. Azad Moopen, founder chairman & managing director, Aster DM Healthcare. The COP27 summit was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and concluded on November 2.

In addition to our work at the corporate level, we also run an extensive community outreach initiative called Aster Volunteers in the countries of India, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Africa. Dr. Moopen also mentioned that a task-force would be established to monitor and facilitate our ESG obligations and report any difficulties to the highest level for urgent action.

CEO of Burjeel Holdings John Sunil said the UAE places a high priority on the President's proposal as part of its development agenda.

A devoted healthcare service provider, Sunil reaffirmed the organization's dedication to "bold sustainability goals," including those related to the environment and the provision of affordable healthcare and social programmes.

Through Energy Conservation, Water Management, Waste Management, Reprocessing, and other social and philanthropic projects, we work to make real improvements in the quality of life for the people who live in the places we serve. Sunil elaborated, "We support the UAE's national sustainability initiatives with great pride."

The key to developing sustainability in healthcare, according to Dr. Raza Siddiqui, executive director of RAK Hospital, is incorporating sustainability in corporate operations and pushing for improvement in controlling environmental impacts.

Sustainable healthcare must prioritise people's happiness and health to promote preventative care and lessen their negative effects on the planet. Dr. Siddiqui argues that buildings that prioritise healthy residents by include features like green areas, ample natural lighting, renewable energy, and recyclable materials will be better equipped to withstand the effects of climate change.

An increase in healthcare IT spending will lead to better environmental and health results. Dr. Siddiqui further explained that showing sustainability leadership will open doors for public-private partnerships, the maintenance and improvement of existing sustainability efforts, and the pursuit of a smaller ecological footprint.

Fameco aiming for more sustainable future through refurbishing

While Fameco's roots are in the medical device industry, the company's expertise has expanded to include analytical chemistry instruments and hospital equipment. The organisation takes a green stance by recycling used medical equipment and purchasing it back from clinics, hospitals, and labs. This equipment is then refurbished using an ISO 9001-approved procedure that guarantees not just the highest quality in appearance but also in performance. Fameco is able to provide pristine, pre-owned medical equipment due to their expertise and meticulous practices. Systems are refurbished on demand to meet the specific needs of each customer. The company is flexible and quick to respond to the needs of its suppliers and clients, delivering high-quality equipment as soon as possible while also offering individualised services such as delivery, technical support, and warranty coverage.

GE making inroads

GE Healthcare, a market leader in medical technology and diagnostics, is reducing the environmental impact of even the largest pieces of medical equipment by adding efficiency features and utilising digital technologies. It's helping the healthcare sector in the Middle East by offering solutions that give a full picture of patients' conditions in a given care setting, hospital, or health system in real time. Besides aiding clinical teams in providing responsive, timely, and compliant care, the company is thereby allowing the healthcare industry to minimise its carbon footprint and support countries in achieving their climate goals.

Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in rural and outlying Middle Eastern hospitals, for example, benefit from around-the-clock monitoring with the help of cutting-edge software that compiles data from a variety of sources on each patient and keeps a vigilant eye out for any A trained tele-intensive care unit (ICU) team is notified of any sign of deterioration and works in tandem with the hospital's bedside staff to ensure the patient receives prompt, appropriate care. With the help of this tele-ICU solution, Saudi Arabia is on track to become carbon neutral by the year 2060. Countries like Qatar and Turkey have used the remote consultation solution as well.