HEALTH CARE SECTOR CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS, PHILIPPINE DOCTORS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE NATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ACTION

Quezon City, Philippines – The healthcare industry contributes immensely to the global carbon footprint, according to ¹Healthcare’s Climate Footprint: How the health sector contributes to the global climate crisis and opportunities for action, a new report released by Health Care Without Harm in collaboration with Arup.

“In climate-vulnerable Philippines, where health care delivery is greatly challenged not only by lack of infrastructure and understaffing problems but also by floods, typhoons, drought, heatwaves and other climate-related disasters, it is high time to reiterate the health care sector’s healing mission of first, do no harm and call for national and institutional healthcare de-carbonization while meeting the goals of the Universal Health Coverage”, says Ramon San Pascual, HCWH Southeast Asia Director.

In addition, according to the Health Care’s Climate Footprint Report, while health facilities deliver care, hospitals are also contributing massively to worldwide emissions through energy consumption, waste output and especially through the supply chains processes. The report also stated that global health care emissions are ²equivalent to the annual greenhouse gases produced by 514 coal-fired power plants.

Making the urgent call, Philippine Medical Association President Dr. Jose Santiago expresses that, "we will involve the medical practitioners and professional societies under our banner on a nationwide initiative towards making Philippine hospitals and clinics climate-smart, adapting to the risks and ill effects of climate change on human health and survival, and ensuring its suitability with the Universal Healthcare requirements."

“Health professionals are one of the best communicators of the link between the climate crisis and people’s health. Therefore, their call for immediate climate action and bringing about a climate-smart healthcare must be heard and heeded” says Paeng Lopez, Healthy Energy Initiative Campaigner of HCWH Southeast Asia.

“Calling for strong climate action is healthcare sector’s direct response to the climate crisis. We must not wait for the next generation of doctors and other medical professionals diagnose the brunt of the climate crisis. From lung diseases, heart failures and premature births, to climate disasters caused by coal plants, mining & other extractive industries, the health of the people and the planet must be defended.” San Pascual adds. ###

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Heath Care Without Harm works to transform the health sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it becomes ecologically sustainable and a leading advocate for environmental health and justice.

¹ https://noharm-uscanada.org/ClimateFootprintReport

² https://noharm-global.org/documents/climate-footprint-report-findings 

This press event was in partnership with the Philippine Medical Association, Philippine College of Physicians, Asian Medical Students Association - Philippines, UP Manila College of Public Health and Mary Johnston Hospital - Tondo.