Environmental sustainability in healthcare systems: role of frugal innovation

The health sector has an important role in protecting human and planetary health by reducing its environmental impact. Health systems globally are collectively responsible for 4.4% of global net greenhouse gas emissions—equivalent to the emissions from 514 coal fired power plants annually1—which damage health in several ways, including heatwaves and inhalation of pollutants.High income countries are the main healthcare polluters, with health systems in Australia, Canada, the United States, and Switzerland each contributing over a ton of emissions per capita.2 Collective action has started to address this: over 50 countries have committed to developing climate resilient and low carbon health systems. Two high income countries and 12 low and middle income countries have also committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions on or before 2050, including the UK, Belgium, Malawi, and Sierra Leone.3 Many healthcare workers and patient groups additionally contribute to climate movements in healthcare such as HealthCare Without…
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