Green Hospitals
 
The aim of Green Hospitals is the introduction and/or strengthening of socially responsible management by health care institutes. A “green” hospital or other health institution:

has a broad view on health; is committed to prevention of diseases without medicalising; takes into account unwanted side effects of the healthcare practice in the short to long term, short to long distance, and small to large scale; offers an integral service to the patient, family and community; provides physically and mentally healthy working conditions; is aware of the price, costs and value of energy, water and other resources; is alert to the risks to human health and the environment of the use of synthetic substances.

SHA has worked with hospitals in South America (Venezuela and Colombia) and two Dutch hospitals on environmental care issues (see experiences and photo album Venezuela; ver experiencias y foto album Venezuela). As a result of this collaboration:

• Hospital Central Dr. Urquinaona, Maracaibo, Venezuela in the year 2001 introduced a self maintained system for separation of sharps; started separating waste streams and recycling; collaborated with the municipality for a safer transport of residual waste and landfilling; end the process for acquisition of an incinerator without flue gas cleaning;

• Hospital Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST), Enschede The Netherlands started replacing PVC from 2003. In 2001 the head of pharmacy of this hospital expressed his concerns about the fate of pharmaceuticals, especially cytostatics, antibiotics and hormones, that are released into the sewer system after use. From this moment on SHA involved various faculties of five universities (Wageningen, Utrecht, Groningen, Twente, Saxion) and about 80 Bachelor and Master students with their tutors in this issue of pharmaceutical pollution;

• Utrecht Medical Centre (UMCU), The Netherlands started phasing out PVC from 2006. With this hospital the collaboration on contamination of pharmaceuticals was started in 2011 and, in 2014, resulted in the project SOSPharmaH.