The Medicine and Biomedical Sciences curriculum has included the elective course “green medicine” for a few years now. “You learn to look at your profession differently,” says Sifra Eigenraam, one of the lecturers. She expects the course to inspire students. “For example, thanks to the tour of the 'green operating theatre”.
Surgery generates a huge amount of waste, even for relatively simple procedures. Eigenraam points to the standardised sets of surgical equipment, such as syringes, gloves and needles. “In some cases, not everything in the set is used, but because the set has been opened, you have to throw away the rest because it is no longer sterile. Smaller kits, containing only the items you need, could already yield gains."
Climate impact in education
“The most sustainable care is the care you don't have to provide,” says Eigenraam. And often you can scale down the care you provide. “We can think even more carefully about whether a patient really needs to come to the hospital for a consultation. If you can do it digitally, there is less traffic. And you can consider providing treatment with devices at home.”
The challenge is to consider not only the effectiveness of medical choices, but also their environmental impact. “If the same health benefits can be achieved with less impact on the environment, that is obviously preferable,” says Eigenraam. The patient's preferences are always taken into account, so that care remains accessible to everyone.
More sustainable care
With more research, healthcare can become not only more effective, but also more sustainable. Eigenraam points to a recently published article on the environmental impact of bypass surgery. The largest contributors to the emissions from this procedure were disposable products in the operating theatre, energy consumption and staff commuting.
Tim Stobernack, one of the researchers behind the article, emphasises the importance of the research results: “By using materials more intelligently, switching to renewable energy and encouraging sustainable transport for staff, patients and visitors, we can significantly reduce the environmental impact of healthcare.”
Green medicine is one of the themes of Radboud Impact Day. Hugo Touw and Tim Stobernack, together with Maarten Manten, the initiators of the course, will draw attention to the climate impact of medical education. Eigenraam: 'The course we are currently offering is optional. I believe it is essential to incorporate sustainability into medical training. Green medicine is an enrichment for every aspiring medical professional.“
Tuesday 3 June, 12:00 – 17:00: Radboud Impact Day: Including a lunch programme on 'sustainability in medical education'. Register via this link.