Module aims to embed healthcare sustainability

A joint submission from the AMA and DEA seeks to help health organisations reduce their environmental impact.

This week, the AMA and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) lodged a joint submission to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)’s consultation for a Sustainable Health Care Module.

The module aims to support health service organisations to implement environmentally sustainable activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the health impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. It is estimated that Australia’ health care sector contributes to 7 per cent of Australia’s carbon emissions. Health service organisations will be able to choose to be assessed against the module during their routine National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards assessments.

The AMA and DEA support the ACSQHC’s Sustainable Healthcare Module. The AMA and DEA believe that module activities could be more specific in some areas to further support healthcare facility implementation, including specific measurements for healthcare facilities to monitor and report on, such as carbon emissions. This module should be the first step to implement a mandatory Accreditation Standard on environmental sustainability to enable the healthcare sector to reach net zero by 2040 (an AMA and DEA commitment). The ACSQHC should ensure its work aligns with the Department of Health and Aged Care’s National Health Sustainability and Climate Unit.