• World Health Organization (WHO) identifies climate change as the ‘single biggest health threat facing humanity’.

• While hospitals are witnessing negative effects, at the same time they are also contributing to the climate change.

• The healthcare sector is responsible for almost 5% of global GHG emissions and carbon footprint equivalent to 514 coal-fired power plants.

• Quality Accreditation standards play key role in improvising services and systems of the hospitals. Over the last 18 years, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) standards have played a pivotal role in improving quality of health care, ensuring patient safety and disaster management preparedness among the accredited hospitals in India.

• As revision of current edition of NABH Accreditation Standards for Hospitals is underway, NABH has conducted environmental scanning and extensive review of literature regarding impact of climate change on healthcare ecosystem.

• The study was planned considering availability of limited number of studies in Indian context to understand role of Quality standards in climate change preparedness in hospitals.

 

RESULTS:

Systematic review of literature and environmental scanning was carried out at NABH. It was concluded that more than 100 research publications corroborate that there is significant positive impact of NABH standards on the quality of healthcare services and clinical care in India.

Now that the NABH standards for hospitals have been revised to include detailed requirements for climate change resilience and sustainability, significant impact on healthcare ecosystem is expected in India over next 10 years.

CONCLUSION:

With over 20000+ accredited, certified & empanelled Healthcare partners, NABH is committed to create a significant impact in building climate resilient and adaptive health care ecosystem through implementation of its new edition of accreditation standards in India.

Also, NABH has developed a guidance document  on Climate Action & Sustainability in Healthcare for healthcare partners as per current guidelines.

Substantial impact with respect to climate change resilience and adaptive healthcare ecosystem can be expected across the sector in 70,000+ healthcare facilities of India over next 10 years through this new and futuristic initiative of NABH.