Empowering health-care learners to take action towards embedding environmental sustainability into health-care systems

How Should Health Systems Science Promote Health Systems’ Sustainability?

“…15 Trainees realize that the current health system is functioning on a fossil fuel-based, high-waste model, ultimately at the expense of current and future patients' health; they are passionate about advocacy and driving meaningful action to transform the health sector into a net-zero, closed-loop system. 29 Many trainees believe this goal starts with their HSS education. 29 The rapid pace at which health system functioning is evolving demands an equally rapid inclusion of health care waste and sustainability in trainee HSS education.…”

“…29 Many trainees believe this goal starts with their HSS education. 29 The rapid pace at which health system functioning is evolving demands an equally rapid inclusion of health care waste and sustainability in trainee HSS education. In 2020-2021, 97 medical schools covered value-based care in their preclerkship curriculum.…”

Barriers and enablers to implementing environmentally sustainable practices in healthcare: A scoping review and proposed roadmap

“…Growing global challenges served as a key impetus for the increased importance placed on integrating environmentally sustainable practices across many sectors, including healthcare. 1,2 The latest estimates suggest that healthcare accounts for ∼4-6% of global greenhouse gas emissions with most stemming from scope 3 emissions (e.g. supply chains).…”

“…reducing inequality in healthcare access by implementing innovative technology), but still lacking on the "E" and the "G" principles. 1,2 Nonetheless, given the mounting evidence for the impact of climate change on individual and population health, the healthcare sector (both public and private providers) is increasingly placing an emphasis on integrating environmentally sustainable practices in their delivery of care. 1,[16][17][18][19] To successfully enable the healthcare sector in adopting and achieving its environmental goals, it is important to map the complexities that these facilities encounter.…”

“…1,2 Nonetheless, given the mounting evidence for the impact of climate change on individual and population health, the healthcare sector (both public and private providers) is increasingly placing an emphasis on integrating environmentally sustainable practices in their delivery of care. 1,[16][17][18][19] To successfully enable the healthcare sector in adopting and achieving its environmental goals, it is important to map the complexities that these facilities encounter. This is particularly important in the wake of the challenges that health systems around the world had to overcome due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.…”