Page 26 - CIJ March 2024 - Digital Edition

Cover Story

to gain traction waste, including medical waste,
and secure the pharmaceuticals, and other
necessary resources materials requiring specialized
for successful handling and disposal procedures.
implementation.
What are your strategies to
Given the
unique integrate green products into
requirements existing healthcare practices?
and constraints To address current challenges,
within the hospitals could consider collaborating
healthcare with industry partners and
Neeta Rajwar industry, how do you sustainability experts to access
resources, expertise, and best
balance sustainability practices. It is essential to leverage
goals with the necessity available funding opportunities,
for clinical effectiveness and incentives, and grants to support
operational efficiency? sustainability initiatives.
The growing importance of
green cleaning reflects a shift Yes, the balancing act includes: Advocating for policy changes
towards more sustainable • Infection control and patient and regulatory reforms that facilitate
practices in response to global safety: Healthcare facilities must the adoption of green products and
environmental challenges and prioritize infection control and practices in healthcare settings is
patient safety to prevent the
changing societal expectations. spread of diseases and ensure another strategy.
By prioritizing green cleaning, optimal patient outcomes. Another important step is
organizations can promote Introducing sustainable practices engaging with patients and the local
health & safety, reduce or products that compromise community to raise awareness about
environmental impact, comply infection control protocols or sustainability practices.
with regulations, enhance their patient safety standards can pose
reputation, and achieve long- significant risks. How do you engage and
term cost savings. • Regulatory compliance: Hospitals educate stakeholders within
are subject to stringent regulatory your organization, including
requirements and standards staff and patients, about the
• While greener alternatives or governing patient care, facility
sustainable technologies may operations, and environmental benefits of green products?
offer long-term cost savings, safety. The response to these engagements
hospitals may be concerned about • Resource intensity of healthcare and education efforts may vary
potential increases in operational operations: Healthcare depending on factors such as
and maintenance costs associated facilities are resource-intensive
with new equipment or systems. environments that consume large organizational culture, staff
Without adequate resources for quantities of energy, water, and demographics, patient populations,
ongoing maintenance and support, other resources to support clinical and the level of awareness and
sustainability projects may fail activities, medical equipment, and understanding about sustainability
to deliver the expected financial facility infrastructure. issues. However, by consistently
benefits. • Cost considerations: Hospitals communicating the benefits of green
• Hospitals may face competing operate within tight budget products, providing opportunities
priorities for limited resources, constraints and must prioritize for learning and participation, and
making it challenging to allocate investments that deliver the fostering a culture of sustainability,
funding and staff time to greatest value for patient care and hospitals can cultivate a sense of
sustainability initiatives. operational performance. ownership and commitment among
Without sufficient support and • Waste management and disposal: stakeholders and drive positive
alignment with organizational goals, Generation of significant amounts change towards a more sustainable
sustainability projects may struggle of hazardous and non-hazardous healthcare environment.

MARCH 2024•Clean India Journal
26 www.cleanindiajournal.com