Setting up a sustainable development program in a hospital: Rational and practical

Pollution and climate change are considered the two greatest threats to public health today. Their interactions with the hospital are paradoxical, with the latter caring for the victims while at the same time contributing to the problem by generating signi fi cant soil, air, and water pollution. Even more than elsewhere, the implementation of a sustainable development (SD) program therefore a scienti fi c, moral, and public health priority for hospitals. In fact, numerous scienti fi and administrative recommendations promote the implementation of SD in hospitals, which should lead to a triple quality of care, working life, and the environment. To achieve this, the reduction of environmental impact must be achieved not only around the care provided but also within the care itself, which must be rethought to choose the least impacting care for equal quality. This means refusing unnecessary care, saving energy, and reducing waste. It also means rethinking our care in terms of patient pathways, and the choice of medicines and medical devices. This means that co -governance, both administrative and healthcare, is essential. Local players need to be promoted, and multi -professional green teams organized around the key areas of energy, transport, purchasing, eco-design of care, and waste. Finally, easy, high -impact actions (such as stopping the use of N 2 O and des fl urane) or symbolic actions (such as sorting and recycling waste) should be favored.