The ECCT's Low Carbon Initiative arranged a lunch on the topic of green healthcare strategy and practices. The event featured opening remarks by Dr Liu Yueh-Ping, Director-General of the Department of Medical Affairs, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) (衛福部醫事司 劉越萍司長) and ECCT LCI Chair Giuseppe Izzo, two keynote presentations and a panel discussion featuring Taiwan policymakers and hospital management personnel. The event was held to highlight operational innovations on how to advance green practices in the healthcare sector and the critical role hospitals play in reducing carbon emissions and adopting sustainable procurement practices and how hospitals can align with ESG goals through policy planning and procurement strategies.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr Natalia Kurek, Deputy Director of Greener NHS (UK). In her presentation she shared insights into the NHS's ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040, along with the long-term plan targets. She outlined strategies to decarbonize the NHS estate, transportation, supply chain and procurement, and emphasized the importance of reducing the carbon footprint of inhalers by 50% by 2030. Dr Kurek also discussed how improving clinical outcomes can go hand in hand with reducing carbon emissions, showcasing how the NHS is integrating sustainability into its healthcare operations.

Cathleen Chan, Director of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (長庚醫療財團法人行政中心藥事管理部 陳玉瑩組長), delivered a keynote speech detailing the hospital's green transformation efforts. She highlighted the hospital's approach to green procurement, including green building initiatives, energy efficiency measures, and the adoption of renewable energy sources. Chan also stressed the importance of incorporating circular economy principles into hospital operations, particularly in managing waste and optimising resource use. She highlighted the carbon footprint associated with different inhalers, noting that just one Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI) equals the carbon impact of a two-year supply of Ellipta (24 units). Chan also provided an overview of inhaler use and carbon emissions at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, showing that while MDI usage is lower than non-MDI inhalers, it produces significantly higher carbon emissions. She raised the issue of how to reduce carbon emissions in respiratory care, suggesting that converting 25% of MDI usage to non-MDI options could reduce carbon emissions by approximately 503 tons.

The lunch concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr Chen Yuh-Min, Chairman of the Taiwan Society of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (TSPCCM) (台灣胸腔暨重症加護醫學會 陳育民理事長). Panellists, including Dr Liu Yueh-Ping, Lin Ming-Nan, Deputy CEO of the Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission under the MOHW (衛福部附屬醫療及社會福利機構管理會 林名男副執行長), Cathleen Chan, and Dr Lai Chun-Liang, Deputy Superintendent of Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital (大林慈濟醫院 賴俊良副院長), engaged in a lively discussion on the challenges and opportunities of implementing green healthcare practices in Taiwan. Panellists highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration in accelerating Taiwan's healthcare sector towards a low-carbon future.