How Sustainable Procurement is Boosting Healthcare in APAC

Royal Philips, a global leader in healthcare technology, has released the second set of Asia Pacific (APAC) findings of its Future Health Index (FHI) 2024 report: Better Care for More People.

The ninth edition of the report, which surveyed nearly 3,000 healthcare leaders in 14 countries, including Australia, Indonesia and Singapore, shows that APAC is leading the charge when it comes to sustainable healthcare, as leaders look to invest in further sustainable innovations.

Why reducing environmental impact is top priority

Almost all (99%) surveyed healthcare leaders in APAC believe that reducing the industry's environmental impact and CO2 emissions output should be the top priority for healthcare organisations – above the global average of 86%.

Meanwhile, 46% say their organisations have already installed strategies to obtain a carbon-neutral certification and two in five (40%) are planning to do so in the next three years. Forty-five per cent of leaders are already setting targets for decarbonisation and tracking emissions, which once again exceeds the global average of 31%.

Key sustainability strategies currently being implemented include: using a renewable source of energy (53%); recycling waste wherever possible (50%); sustainable procurement, including the procurement of circular equipment (49%); prioritising reusable medical equipment and supplies, such as reducing single-use plastics (48%); and using virtual care technologies/remote monitoring to reduce emissions (47%).

Mark Burby, Vice President of Health Systems at Philips APAC, says: "Addressing the impact of the healthcare sector on the planet is no longer a matter of if; it is a matter of how.

"We are observing healthcare leaders across the region embracing new strategies to balance workforce, financial and environmental priorities to ensure healthcare systems remain sustainable in the long term.

"Key to this will be collaboration across the ecosystem and, to do our part, we are committed to helping the industry streamline workflows, advance clinical insights and reduce environmental impact to deliver better care for more people."

Data from Philips' report highlights how healthcare leaders across the region are prioritising sustainable procurement and virtual care technologies. In addition to the 49% already implementing sustainable procurement practices, such as using circular equipment, another 43% plan to adopt these within the next three years.

Reusable medical supplies are also a priority, with 48% already pursuing this and 41% planning to do so. Additionally, 46% are selecting suppliers with sustainable targets and 41% intend to do so in the near future.

In terms of operational improvements, 42% are focusing on reducing energy consumption, while 41% plan to leverage virtual care and remote monitoring to cut emissions within the next three years.

Other key actions include eliminating hazardous substances and further expanding the use of reusable medical supplies.

The demand for sustainable healthcare

Consumers are expecting sustainable action from healthcare providers, with 87% of APAC consumers recognising the interconnectivity between climate impact and their health, according to Philips' 2024 Sustainable Healthcare survey in APAC.

However, while 69% of respondents see sustainable health practices as a top or urgent priority, less than one in six (15%) note that these practices are being widely adopted in their countries.

Philips: Improving workflow, efficiency and sustainable healthcare

Facilitating ecosystem collaboration is crucial when it comes to healthcare sustainability, which is why all of Philips' new solutions are built with sustainability in mind to drive a positive impact on both patient and environmental health.

This December at RSNA 2024, the world's largest medical imaging conference held in Chicago, Philips will showcase some of its latest innovations that help hospitals and health systems to consistently deliver accessible, high-quality care to patients in a sustainable way.

Philips' MR portfolio is a great example of how the company is committed to solutions that benefit patients, healthcare providers and the planet. Based on a decade of innovation, the portfolio uses a revolutionary solution designed to reduce helium usage, while providing clinical excellence.

The eco-friendly design of Philips' MRI portfolio with helium-free operations is also up to 1,700 kg lighter, enabling flexible installations in new locations, including elevated floors or indoor sites with construction limitations, bringing quality MRI to more patients, where helium logistics are challenging or costly.

With more than 1,500 units installed globally, Philips MR scanners equipped with this technology have already saved more than 2.75 million litres of helium since 2018. The industry's first helium-free portfolio is an important step in the right direction as it addresses the global scarcity of helium, with MRI scanners being the largest consumers of helium.

Philips has designed the industry's first multi-vendor, multi-modality, multi-site virtual imaging support solution that seamlessly connects Imaging Experts at a command centre with technologists at scan locations across imaging networks in real-time.

By removing barriers of physical distance and providing remote support and monitoring capabilities, the solution reduces travel time between sites and scanners, helping to reduce emissions, while giving experts more time back to focus on patients and workflows.

Philips designed a workspace for cardiovascular care that is accessible anytime and virtually anywhere. This allows users to combine deep clinical expertise with technological innovation to securely connect patients, care teams and data across the entire cardiovascular care continuum.

By providing the clinician interoperable access to a variety of systems and applications from a single location, the solution allows for streamlined data analysis, reducing clinical decision-making time to improve patient outcomes, while providing overall cost savings.

Explore the latest edition of Procurement Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE.

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today. 

Procurement Magazine is a BizClik brand