Sustainable medicines use in clinical practice - a clinical
pharmacological view on ecopharmacostewardship
Abstract
Climate change continues to pose a dangerous threat to human health.
However, not only is health impacted by this crisis, healthcare itself
adds to the problem, through significant contributions to green house
gas emissions. In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) is
responsible for an estimated 4% of the overall national carbon
footprint. Medicines account for a quarter of this and whilst they are
vital in in health now, through sustainable use they can also positively
influence the environmental health of the future. In this review, we
explore how clinical pharmacologists and other health care professionals
can practice sustainable medicines use or eco-pharmaco-stewardship. We
will discuss current and near future environmental practices within the
NHS, which we suspect will resonate with other health systems. We will
suggest approaches for championing eco-pharmaco-stewardship in drug
manufacturing, clinical practices and patient use, to achieve a more a
sustainable healthcare system.