Advancing environmentally responsible procurement in health care and in WHO

Transcription

1 Advancing environmentally responsible procurement in health care and in WHO Michaela Pfeiffer Technical Officer Department of Public Health, Environmental & Social Determinants of Health World Health Organization Geneva

2 Contents 1. Rationale for environmentally responsible procurement in health care 2. Related UN initiatives 3. Moving towards a green procurement policy in WHO 2

3 Rationale for environmentally responsible or green procurement

4 What determines health and well-being? Health and wellbeing is influenced by a combination of social, economic and environmental factors as well as individual behaviours and heredity. Health care is only one of multiple factors supporting population health and wellbeing. 4

5 A public health view of environment Prüss-Üstün A, Corvalán C. (2006) Preventing disease through healthy environments. Towards an estimate of the environmental burden of disease. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. 5

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8 Major environmental risks to health, World, * Preliminary estimate

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10 Target environmental root causes of disease 10

11 Lead by example Champion the issue Promote healthy working environment Address the environmental impacts of health care activities 11

12 How can health care activities cause environmental impacts? Packaging materials Health care waste Hazardous chemicals ITNs Electronic waste Expired medicines 12

13 Health sector procurement also a significant source of carbon emissions Example from the UK s National Health Service (2015) 13

14 Distribution of the NHS England Procurement Carbon Footprint (2012) 14 Source: National Health Service, England, 2012

15 Alignment with international conventions and agreements Minamata Convention on Mercury (2013) Among other things, calls for phasing-out of import, export and manufacture of mercury added-devices by Mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers included. Implication is that MS will have to substitute or replace such devices with mercury-free alternatives. World Health Assembly Resolution (2014) Recognizes the role of health ministries and WHO in supporting the implementation of the Convention. 15

16 Related initiatives ongoing in the UN focused on sustainable procurement

17 UNDP & UN Sustainable Procurement 17

18 High-Level Committee on Management Procurement Network (HLCM PN) 18

19 Informal Interagency Task Team on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector An informal initiative of UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNFPA, WHO, UNHCR, GAVI, UNITAID, and The Global Fund Specifically focused on greening procurement of health commodities in the UN and health development sector Using a multi-pronged approach: 1. Development of normative guidance 2. Promotion of good practice coupled with capacity building 3. Engagement with suppliers and manufacturers 19

20 Leading by example in the health sector (example UN health sector procurement) UN agencies procurement for the health sector represent a sizable proportion of certain markets. In 2012 UNDP, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNOPS combined procured approximately US$ 3 billion in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and supplies. Changes in internal UN and WHO procedures would send a strong global signal. 20

21 Joint statement of intent on environmentally and socially responsible procurement 21

22 Applications for WHO

23 A new global procurement strategy for WHO Endorsed in May 2015 by WHO's Executive Board More explicit commitment to environmentally and socially responsible procurement Commits WHO to developing a new "green" procurement policy 23

24 Framing a green procurement policy Setting environmental standards GHG thresholds, toxicity, waste, energy intensity/efficiency, water resource efficiency Supporting implementation Clarify key entry points for application of green criteria (i.e. at what points in the procurement process "greening" will occur) Define roles and responsibilities within the overall control framework Tools and systems, such as green products lists, supplier score cards, etc. Awareness raising and capacity building Engagement with suppliers and manufactures and with external constituencies 24

25 Summary and key messages Many environmental issues associated with health care linked to procurement of goods and services. Greening procurement opens an important upstream opportunity to address environmental root causes of disease. Also an opportunity for health sector to lead by example. Many activities are already underway which can provide helpful models. The Joint Statement provides an important high level endorsement within which to advance this issue. 25