Headline: Chief Physician: Health System Causes Excessive Carbon Emissions
Published: Friday, Oct 27th 2023, 04:21
Updated At: Saturday, Oct 28th 2023, 01:55
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Switzerland's health system has been responsible for an average of one tonne of CO2 emissions per person per year, according to Lausanne Chief Physician Nicolas Senn. Measures such as energy-efficient buildings could significantly reduce these emissions, he said.
The Swiss health system is responsible for six to eight percent of the country's total CO2 emissions, according to Senn in an interview published Friday with "Le Temps". If Switzerland is to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement, the health care system would consume the entire CO2 budget.
Dr. Senn is the Chief of the Department of Family Medicine at the University Health Center Unisanté in Lausanne. He is also the Co-Director of the Platform for Sustainability and Health of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at the University of Lausanne.
He warned of the health impacts: "The ecological impacts of healthcare kill just as many people as medical errors," said the Chief Physician.
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings could reduce emissions by 60 to 70 percent, according to him. Senn also sees potential in renewable energy sources and less motorized transport of staff and patients on their way to the hospital.
Hospitals are primarily responsible for providing healthcare services.
Hospitals are responsible for 75 to 80 percent of emissions in the health care sector, according to Senn. Medications follow, accounting for one third of CO2 emissions. For example, a diabetes treatment causes 10 to 12 kilograms of CO2 per year.
Having an MRI scan can be particularly energy intensive. Just one MRI scan can cause 25 kilograms of CO2. According to Dr. Senn, if someone has two MRI scans a year and takes five medications, this is the only energy expenditure they can afford to make for their health in order to meet the Paris Agreement.
©Keystone/SDA
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