THE CONCEPT OF GREEN HOSPITALS AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES (REVIEW ARTICLE) | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||
| Article 8, Volume 49, Issue 1, January 2025, Pages 117-123 PDF (582.31 K) | ||
| Document Type: Review article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2024.254652.1355 | ||
| Author | ||
| El Safty AMK* | ||
| Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Introduction: The concept of green hospital is crucial in promoting sustainable development within health care sector. The idea is to minimize their environmental impact parallel to enhancing health and wellbeing of patients and working staff. Achieving this goal is greatly considered and outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [Goal 3, which is concerned with “Ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being at all ages”]. Paradoxically, health care sector that is considered as health protector is in the same time the main emitter of environmental pollutants that negatively affects health. Sustainability became the key priority for the whole world, governments, leaderships and health care organizations, aiming at optimizing the resources efficiently and being recognized in the community. Aim of Work: The aim of this review article is to provide and explore the research landscape in the field of green hospitals and highlight sustainable practices within the healthcare sector. Renewable energy integration, innovative practices, smart building management systems, benefits and challenges in implementing of sustainability practices will be explored. Green hospital certification requirements involve assessing healthcare facilities with specific environmental sustainability standards and practices that minimize resource consumption, lower carbon foot print along with maintaining high-quality patient care and staff satisfaction. In conclusion, adopting sustainability approaches and practices in health care facilities is essential for enhancing public health through reduction of environmental negative impacts, improving health outcomes, promote cost effectiveness, mitigate climatic changes, engage community and pose hospitals as leaders in health sector transformation. Green hospitals mark an inspiring step forward in how healthcare embraces sustainability. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Green Hospitals; Renewable energy; Smart hospitals; Waste management and Sustainability | ||
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