This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on January 20, 2025 - January 26, 2025

Are you aware that the healthcare sector, designed to save lives, also contributes to harming our planet and, by extension, our health?

Globally, healthcare accounts for a staggering 5% of greenhouse gas emissions — only slightly less than that of the combined 27 countries of the European Union. Hospitals, clinics and even the production of medicines release large amounts of pollutants like carbon dioxide and methane, and our drugs and medical equipment come wrapped in large quantities of single-use plastic. As the world’s demand for healthcare grows, so does its environmental footprint. If left unchecked, this could make our fight against climate change even harder.

In Malaysia, we cannot afford to ignore this. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is stepping up to ensure that our healthcare system does not only heal people, but also helps heal the planet. Together, we have a role to play in making healthcare greener, cleaner and more sustainable.

Climate change is not just an environmental problem, it is a health crisis too. Rising temperatures and extreme weather are spreading diseases like dengue and malaria faster than ever. Heatwaves and air pollution worsen heart and lung conditions, while floods and natural disasters bring injuries and long-term health challenges.

Each time a heatwave strikes or floods devastate communities, more Malaysians end up in hospitals. Our healthcare system is already under pressure, and simply reacting to these problems is not sufficient. We need to address the root cause — climate change itself. That means making our healthcare sector part of the solution.

MoH has already started this journey. Since 2015, we have introduced energy-saving measures, implemented better waste management through Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) practices, and improved indoor air quality in hospitals. These efforts have earned Malaysia international recognition, including the prestigious Energy Management Gold Standard (EMGS) under Asean’s Energy Management Scheme.

By October last year, 62 out of 148 hospitals across Malaysia had earned a green building certification. These hospitals use less energy, maintain better air quality and follow sustainable practices. MoH is aiming for all 148 hospitals to be green certified by 2025. This is a major step forward — not just for the environment, but for every Malaysian who relies on these hospitals for care.

In 2023, Malaysia became one of the first countries in the world to launch the Carbon Neutral Healthcare Facilities Blueprint. This plan sets an ambitious goal: to make all healthcare facilities carbon-neutral by 2045. This means rapidly adapting by using renewable energy like solar power, improving energy efficiency and adopting innovative green financing models to fund sustainable projects.

MoH is also exploring new ways to reduce waste and emissions, such as advanced incineration technologies for managing hospital waste. These measures will make our healthcare system more resilient and sustainable — something that benefits everyone, now and in the future.

Transforming healthcare into a green and sustainable system is not something MoH can do alone. It is a shared responsibility. We are working with other government ministries, businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and, most importantly, the public. Every action matters. Supporting policies for renewable energy, committing to proper recycling and reducing the waste we all generate in our daily lives mean that we are all contributing to a healthier planet.

Our work with other agencies, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, aims to strengthen climate action through better ecosystem protection and sustainable development. We also fully support and are keen to implement the government’s National Planetary Health Action Plan, a blueprint for building a Malaysia that is prepared to handle the challenges of climate change while protecting both people and the environment.

While we are making steady progress, there remains much to do. MoH is looking at greener ways to purchase medical supplies and deliver healthcare services. But meaningful change requires broader participation. You can help by raising awareness about the connection between health and climate change, supporting sustainable practices and holding all of us — government, businesses and individuals — accountable for protecting our shared future.

The health of our people and our planet are deeply connected. Every step we take towards greener healthcare is a step towards a better, healthier Malaysia for our children and grandchildren. We need to work together because when it comes to securing a sustainable future, every Malaysian has a role to play.

The move to greener healthcare needs to be more than a government initiative — it is a call to action for all of us. A sustainable healthcare system is not just good for the environment, it is good for everyone who calls Malaysia home.

Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan is director-general of health at the Ministry of Health. Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood is executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University.

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