Sustainable Session – EAHP Environmental Sustainability Working Group – what are the roles of hospital pharmacy teams?

Link to EAHP Statements

• Section 1 – Introductory Statement and Governance – 1.1, 1.2
• Section 2 – Selection, Procurement and Distribution: Statements – 2.1, 2.4
• Section 3 – Production and Compounding: Statements – 3.3, 3.4
• Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy services – 4.1, 4.11
• Section 5 – Patient Safety and Quality Assurance – 5.2, 5.9 

Abstract

The climate emergency, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution are the foremost threats facing humanity. The degradation of our planet is a threat not only to the health of our patients and our health systems, but also to our economic and social well-being. The provision of healthcare is estimated to account for 4-5% of global carbon emissions – more than shipping and aviation combined. Medicines, including those mainly used in hospitals, are major contributors to healthcare emissions. As key stakeholders in healthcare systems, hospital pharmacists and their teams have a key role in reducing the impact of medicines and care pathways on the environment and ensuring health services adapt to the challenges of the climate emergency. Pharmaceutical pollution is ubiquitous in our aquatic, terrestrial and airborne environments – hospital pharmacists and pharmacy teams have a key role in minimizing the associated negative impact of pharmaceuticals and associated by-products.

This session will explore what is meant by environmental sustainability; the impact of climate change and pharmaceutical pollution on both human and wider animal health; actions participants can consider which have been successfully delivered already across Europe, supporting the delivery of environmentally sustainable healthcare.

Learning objectives

After the session, the participant should be able to:

• Gain an overview of what is meant by environmental sustainability and the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution on the health of our planet, our patients and our services
• Appreciate the European policy and legal landscape regarding sustainability in the hospital pharmacy, including a focus on selected European countries
• Identify pragmatic behaviour and system changes at a personal, community and professional level which can be implemented locally.
• Provide their view on the EAHP Environmental Sustainability Roadmap 2023/2024
• Gain an overview on what EAHP national associations are doing to improve environmental sustainability in the hospital setting

Educational need addressed  

What is meant by environmental sustainability? What are the health, economic and social impacts of inaction? What interventions have been successfully delivered elsewhere in Europe?

Keywords

Environmental sustainability, sustainable practice, health impacts of climate change; role of hospital pharmacy in supporting environmental action, roadmap