NOS / Jeroen van Eijndhoven
They already know in health care langer: healthcare must be more sustainable. But that process is slow, because organizations can’t agree on mandatory agreements. A sustainability plan was supposed to be published today but has been postponed.
“Given the need, all care organizations need to participate,” says Cathy van Beek, former quartermaster of sustainable care for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS). “That is why more obligations are inevitable. We will not get there alone with the precursors.”
Healthcare is responsible 7 percent of total Dutch CO2 emissions. The sector also produces every year 328 million kilograms of waste. And energy costs for hospitals will rise this year 187 million euros is expected, which further strengthens the demand for sustainability.
“We wish it were different”
“Almost everything in our warehouse is used once and then thrown away,” says Illyes Machkor, sustainability expert at Dijklander Hospital. “For example, we process a million kilos of waste every year. We would like to change it. That’s why we would like to see the materials from suppliers become more sustainable.”
In this video, health workers show how many things and medicines they throw away:
All this goes to waste in healthcare
Doctors also want to do more. “But there are strict rules,” says GP Evelyn Brakema. “Once the medicines leave the pharmacy, they cannot be collected and reissued, even if the box is still unused and sealed.”
Green Deal 3.0
Sustainability can be accelerated with mandatory agreements. Many care organizations are in favor of including this in Green Deal Sustainable Care 3.0. That sustainability plan was supposed to be released today but has been postponed.