The prescribing and supply of medicines is the most common health intervention. The ever- increasing number and variety of medicines available to our health systems allows us to reduce both the morbidity and mortality of many diseases. With the arrival of new and effective therapies to improve patient outcomes, coupled with reductions in infant mortality, education and lifestyle changes, the average life expectancy of Europeans has increased by more than two decades since the 1960s. However, concerns have been raised not only about the impact of pollution and climate change on biodiversity loss, but also the unprecedented climate patterns experienced globally in recent times. These changes represent fundamental challenges not only to human health, but also to our economic and social wellbeing.
This report will discuss how healthcare activities, including medicines and pharmaceutical care our hospital pharmacy teams provide every day, contribute to the challenges of climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss. As healthcare professionals, we must look at how we can balance the need to provide the best possible care to our patients whilst minimising the negative effects of healthcare delivery. Against a backdrop of seemingly overwhelming challenges, we know that most hospital pharmacists want to make a positive contribution but may struggle to know how they can best support this effort.