Towards Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Healthcare Management
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Healthcare facilities face increasing challenges from climate change and environmental degradation.
• Ensuring healthcare quality, accessibility, and affordability is crucial for universal health coverage.
• Optimizing resource use and minimizing environmental impact are key goals for sustainable healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the importance of climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities.
• To identify fundamental requirements for safe and quality care in changing environmental conditions.
• To propose a framework for strengthening healthcare facilities' efficiency and responsiveness.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework development based on literature review and expert consensus.
• Identification of critical action areas for facility resilience and sustainability.
• Analysis of facility operations, resource management, and environmental impact.

Main Results:

• Climate resilience and environmental sustainability enhance healthcare's capacity to protect community health.
• Optimized resource use and waste minimization improve facility affordability and reduce environmental pollution.
• Four key areas are critical: human resources, water/sanitation/waste management, energy services, and infrastructure/technology.

Conclusions:

• Climate-resilient and sustainable healthcare facilities are essential for universal health coverage.
• Strategic interventions in human resources, operations, and infrastructure are necessary.
• The proposed framework supports strengthening healthcare facilities to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities.