Creating Healthier Futures… For People & The Planet.

A brief look at sustainable healthcare practices, on World Environment Day 2023.

Sustainability|Jun.05, 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies sustainability in healthcare as “a health system that improves, maintains or restores health, while minimizing negative impact on the environment and leveraging opportunities to restore and improve it, to the benefit of the health and well-being of current and future generations.”

From curtailing pollution to creating more mindful and responsible service providing chains, World Environment Day, celebrated annually on the 5th of June, serves an important reminder to become more aware and proactive as individuals, businesses and communities. With a world that’s becoming increasingly cognizant of the need for sustainability and aiming to curb waste and reduce carbon footprints, the healthcare industry is making efforts in this direction too, further supported by innovations in tech. For instance, the advent of paperless e-medicine, digitally powered devices for remote monitoring that helps cut down the need for carbon-emitting transport, consumer friendly health monitors, and products to manage health at home, advancements in health tech have invaluable potential to help address needs in more sustainable and accessible ways!

The need of the hour… and for generations to come

With climate change no longer a distant reality and constantly changing healthcare and societal needs, environmental consciousness is essential for continually improving quality of life and maintaining the delicate balance of the world we live in. Embracing sustainability across the healthcare value chain and making efforts towards managing the carbon footprint in healthcare and in every aspect of business, is undoubtedly becoming increasingly critical. While this is a lengthy and evolutionary journey, we are steadily working towards it with various initiatives spanning our healthcare products, services and technology. Our long term goals geared towards creating a healthier and stronger world for generations to come, not only include bettering health for quality of life, but preserving and creating hospitable and healthy environs to do so!

In order to create true, sustainable change in health systems, accessibility, mindful care, resilient supply chains and environment protection are key. At Abbott, healthcare advancements don’t just include cutting edge innovations, but sustainable and responsible solutions that can reach the most people. Our sustainability plan, aimed to enhance the lives of 1 in 3 people in the world by 2030, includes:

  • Protecting and preserving healthy environments.
  • Creating a responsible and diverse supply chain.
  • Innovating for a healthier, more resilient world.
  • Connecting data, technology and care, responsibly.
  • Transforming care for infectious diseases, chronic disease and malnutrition.

Better health for the environment = Better health for you

A better future needs a strong foundation… and health is the cornerstone – healthy people, a healthy environment and a healthy dose of innovation that drives transformation and helps bridge the gaps.

At Abbott, innovation and social responsibility work together for environmental and societal wellbeing, so that more people can live healthier, fuller lives! With initiatives in India for continuing medical education programs, hygiene, tech-powered drives, community building and strategic philanthropic and healthcare partnerships, operating responsibly and sustainably is at our core. Whether it is sanitation or healthcare outreach programs with organizations like SEWA, partnerships with dairy farmers in India to support the manufacture of higher quality milk locally or efforts to better diagnose and prevent widespread diseases like malaria, at Abbott, our programs are designed for accessibility and shared impact.

While we strive to help people safeguard their health and live full and fulfilling lives supported by the creation and delivery of sustainable and accessible technology, efforts towards safeguarding the environment is also an important aspect of our business. Technological innovations in healthcare too serve to help create lighter carbon footprints in healthcare, along with making managing health more accessible, simple and seamless for all. From remote monitoring solutions that deliver healthcare seamlessly to sustainable manufacturing capabilities for materials used in sensor-based technology, collective efforts are helping create a better future for individual and community health.

Building the base for sustenance

Gearing up for the future requires evolving work and work-forces. Diversity in healthcare, including more inclusive workplaces, supporting more women in STEM fields and encouraging young talent, are just some of the measures to help create future forward services and solutions – with more voices, more choices and fresh perspectives on what it means to be sustainable!

A sustainable way of life is one where we work towards meeting current needs, with a mindfulness to not compromise quality of life for the generations ahead. While we may have miles to go, every step forward has the power to transform and help create a better balance between the environmental, social and economic needs of humanity. As environmentally conscious citizens and organizations, we are all seeking better ways to reduce carbon footprint and to create healthcare systems that are healthier in every way!

“Our environmental strategy informs how we operate our day-to-day business in a manner that safeguards the environment and helps improve the efficiency and sustainability of our business." – Agnes Ortega, Divisional Vice President of Compliance and Operation Services, Abbott. 

Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive /for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information.

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