ANNOUNCEMENTS
Healthcare facilities (HCFs), a vital component of public well-being, significantly contribute to environmental degradation through their energy- and carbon- intensive operations. With a growing focus on environmental sustainability, its integration into the healthcare sector remains a challenge. With climate change, pollution, population growth and resource scarcity, it is imperative that HCFs embed sustainability into their core strategy, considering it to be a necessity.
Netherlands has done a lot to incorporate ES in its HCFs. Hence, this thesis conducts an assessment of environmental sustainability practices in HCFs in Netherlands (used as a reference country) categorized into 4 thematic areas- Waste Management, Reduction og GHG emissions, Energy efficiency and Green infrastructure. It then uses these practices as indicators to benchmark the current scenario of ES in HCFs across five major cities in Maharashtra—Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad.
The analysis reveals fragmented implementation and disparities within smaller HCFs especially in tier 2 and 3 cities. Critical issues such as improper waste segregation, lack of awareness and training, absence of carbon tracking, and outdated infrastructure underscore the systemic nature of the challenge.
To address these gaps, a set of tailored, actionable insights have been devised inspired by the Netherlands. By comparing Dutch best practices with Indian realities, the study aims to advance the strategic integration of ES into HCFs transforming them into ethically responsible institutions.
Keywords: Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable healthcare facilities, green procurement, Green infrastructure, Energy efficiency, Reduction of GHG emission, Waste management.
