Decarbonising healthcare in low and middle income countries: potential pathways to net zero emissions

The paper aimed to focus on reducing emissions in high income countries (HICs) and adaptation in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Few LMICs are included in studies on carbon emissions from healthcare. The key recommendations to overcome challenges, and achieve this paper's goals are; 1) Healthcare providers in LMICs should be expected by ministries of health to calculate the carbon footprints of their organisations and to embed action in the delivery of universal health coverage to reduce emissions. 2) Donors and healthcare providers should ensure that virtuous circles in efficiency and health are maximised. 3) Healthcare providers should seek opportunities to increase energy efficiency and move rapidly away from a reliance on fossil fuels and generators. 4) Providers and ministries of health must identify and act on opportunities to reduce emissions in the supply chain. 5) Clinicians should seek to understand which products have already been identified as particularly damaging and the possible mitigation measures.

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Rasheed, F. N, Jerome B, Poornima P, Enrique F. D. B, Srinath R, Nelzair A. V, and Robert M. Decarbonising healthcare in low and middle income countries: potential pathways to net zero emissions. BMJ 375:n1284 (2021). doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1284