The health sector responsible for 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions

Disposable masks and gloves are the visible face of the healthcare sector's ecological footprint. Their use became commonplace with the coronavirus epidemic. They are also waste that unfortunately we find thrown away anyhow, so, in the end, in nature. However, much more than waste, we know less, health has a non-negligible impact on the environment and the climate. The health sector is responsible for 4.4% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent publication by The Lancet . Tony Capon, director of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and one of the authors of the article The environmental footprint of health care: a global assessment (the environmental footprint of the health system: a global assessment), specifies: "the threats to the environment generated by the health system are hidden throughout the supply chain ".

The environmental impact of the health sector 

This study published in July in the medical journal The Lancet offers a first assessment of the ecological footprint of health and care systems between 2000 and 2015. Just for greenhouse gases (GHG) in 2015, the sector of health globally emits 2.4 gigatonnes of CO2.

In OECD countries, health spending represents on average 9% of GDP. The authors note that the impact of the environment and pollution on health is well documented, but that, conversely, less attention is paid to the ecological impact of care.

From this study of 189 countries, it appears that the impact of the health sector generally represents between 1 and 5% of the pollution studied in most countries. The researchers focused on greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants (fine particles, nitrous oxide and sulfur), water pollution and even nitrogen emissions. The transport of patients, the supply of energy to the beats and the production of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals are at the origin of these impacts.

The scientists write that “ despite substantial progress in energy efficiency, in water consumption, in the use of materials, in the reduction of pollutant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions, all the environmental impacts studied health sector increased between 2000 and 2015. Thus, over this period, fine particle pollution increased by 9% and greenhouse gas emissions from health increased by a third (29%). This is explained by the doubling of health spending, which went from 8.5% of global GDP to 10  %. "

Tony Capon commented: “  The ecological footprint of health is both an ethical and a concrete problem. We know that in 2015, over 460,000 people died prematurely around the world from toxic pollution from burning coal. Honestly, why would a hospital buy electricity from coal when renewable energies are now available? " Globally, the WHO estimates that 4 deaths is related to an environmental cause.

Tony Capon advises health actors to “ monitor and track their ecological footprint over time on the train, since it has repercussions on the health plan and generates economic costs. They must also put in place plans to reduce their footprint, in particular by reducing the volume of waste from the health sector, which will also make it possible to save money  ”.

Julien leprovost

Source: GoodPlanetMag

Medical Tourism: Why consider Bulgaria?

Choosing Bulgaria as a destination for health tourism is a matter of weighing the pros and cons. Although the country does lag behind the rest of Europe in areas such as transport and other services, this lack of development does not extend to healthcare. Coming here for private treatment means considerable savings on your treatment, and your living expenses will be cheaper too. One good tip is to stick to the better developed resorts aimed at foreign visitors. Here you can enjoy the best of both worlds – high quality facilities at surprisingly low prices.

Alternatively, you can head out into the countryside and discover a proud, patriotic people who offer a warm welcome and strive to make a good impression. This should be done with care however, as very few Bulgarians speak anything other than their native tongue and the national Cyrillic alphabet can be very hard to decipher on road signs. To add to this confusion, locals will shake their heads for yes and nod for no.

A tasty legacy of Bulgaria’s oft conquered past is its food, with elements of Greek, Turkish and Balkan cuisine fusing to create memorable meals of mouth-watering spiced lamb, for little more than a few pounds a head.

One of the biggest attractions that bring medical tourists to Bulgaria is the thousand or more natural spas across the country. These have been attracting visitors since Roman times, with warm, mineral rich waters and muds laying claim to all manner of healing and rejuvenating properties. The most famous of these spas have been fully developed into major tourist centres, with high quality hotels and facilities for the most discerning guests.

Bulgaria’s major claim to fame as a healthcare tourism destination is the proliferation of high quality, low cost private clinics for medical treatments, cosmetic surgery and dentistry. Forced to keep prices low for poorly paid locals and competitive for foreign healthcare tourists in a crowded market, these clinics offer a significant saving compared to the more affluent European member states.

Combine this with the stunning scenery and relaxed pace of life along the Black Sea Coast resorts, or the breathtaking vistas and fresh air of the mountain retreats, and you have a very special package for your overseas healthcare trip.

Source: Treatment abroad