In 2015, the United Nations member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan for action for people, planet, and prosperity. At the core of the Agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which require constant efforts from all countries for their achievement. By promoting better citizens’ health and wellbeing, health systems can make a powerful contribution to healthcare and other sectors, ultimately sustaining the progress towards the SDGs’ achievement.
Greening healthcare refers to reducing the carbon footprint of healthcare facilities, operations, and supply chains. By adopting sustainable practices such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and waste reduction, health systems can contribute to SDG13 (Climate Action). Health systems can also contribute to SDG5 (Gender Equality) by promoting gender-sensitive healthcare services and policies. This includes promoting gender diversity in healthcare leadership. Health systems can also contribute to SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by collaborating with local authorities, community organisations, and other stakeholders in developing targeted interventions and strategies to improve health outcomes and promote sustainable urban development, Finally, investment in health systems can contribute to SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by promoting economic growth and development. This can be achieved by improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing healthcare workforce capacity, and promoting healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship.
In this plenary session, experts from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and health managers will discuss how health systems bring benefits to global sustainability beyond the health care sector. It will provide a conceptual framework as well as concrete examples from panellists’ experiences in healthcare systems and organisations.
The session will feature keynote speaker Prof. Scott L. Greer, Professor at Michigan University and Senior Expert Advisor at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, USA; Prof Sandra Buttigieg, Professor and Head of the Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Malta; Prof Catherine Keller, Director of the Institute of Management at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique (EHESP); Mr Torbjørn Solberg, Member of the Board at the Norwegian Nurses Organisation; and Prof Dr Wilfried von Eiff, Head of the Center for Hospital Management Münster. Dr Matthias Wismar, Programme Manager at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies will facilitate the discussion.
Check out the #EHMA2023 programme here and discover the over 50 sessions we have this year. Don’t miss your chance to attend EHMA 2023 – book your spot before Friday, 26 May here.