Hospital filled with green
After more than 3 years of implementing Decision 5959 of the Ministry of Health on building clean, green and beautiful medical facilities, up to now, Phu Tho and Quang Ninh provinces are the 2 leading localities in the North in terms of implementing 32 criteria for landscape improvement, environmental sanitation, and waste management in medical facilities.
In Phu Tho, the Provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital and Thanh Son District Medical Center are two pioneering units, standing out in building a safe, friendly and sustainable medical examination and treatment environment.
A cool, fresh and comfortable green space for patients and their families when visiting and receiving treatment at Thanh Son District Medical Center (Phu Tho Province) - a class II medical facility with a scale of 500 beds. A system of green trees and miniature landscapes are arranged everywhere, providing patients with a space to rest.
Meanwhile, at Phu Tho Province Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, all departments and rooms in the hospital have a green tree system and are arranged appropriately. The flower gardens and ornamental plants in the campus are regularly cared for and pruned, creating a cool green working space for doctors and a pleasant feeling for patients.
According to Mr. Bui Trong Quynh - Deputy Director of the hospital, with a total construction area of 7,909.7m2, the hospital has dedicated more than 17,400 m2 for green space and gardens.
Solutions to maintain a clean and fresh environment in the hospital are implemented daily, thoroughly communicated to each staff member, each patient and their family member so that this activity is truly of high quality and effective, promoting the construction of a green and sustainable medical facility.
It is noteworthy that the hospital invested in and used a solar energy system right from the design and operation. This system is regularly maintained.
Save billions of dollars each year
In Quang Ninh, the Provincial General Hospital is a prominent unit with solutions to reduce plastic waste in hospitals.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hai Thanh - Head of Infection Control Department of General Hospital shared: Plastic waste reduction activities are implemented in the daily life of medical staff, patients and patients' families.
"We reduce the use of disposable plastic or nylon items that are difficult to decompose for the purpose of eating and drinking by patients and their families. For medical staff, we replace reusable glass water bottles with disposable plastic water bottles. Use paper cups and glass cups to drink water instead of disposable plastic cups."
Next, the hospital improved its professional processes to reduce plastic waste, such as replacing printed X-ray films with digital photos; replacing disposable plastic ventilator tubes with reusable sterile silicone ventilator tubes; replacing plastic pleural drainage tanks with glass drainage tanks...
The hospital has used 100% biodegradable medical waste bags, reusing the product after treatment.
"The cost of buying XQ films is gradually decreasing. In 2021, the cost of buying XQ films is 1.3 times less than in 2020 and 3.2 times less than in 2019. So in 2021, we will save about 200 million VND compared to 2020 and about 1.5 billion VND compared to 2019," said Dr. Nguyen Thi Hai Thanh.
According to Dr. Thanh, if the hospital does not take measures to use alternative materials, does not reuse plastic waste, and does not thoroughly classify and collect recyclable waste, it will have to spend a lot of money to treat waste.
After implementing measures to reduce plastic waste, the hospital has saved a lot of money on transportation and waste treatment, with a total annual savings of about 1 billion VND.
Dr. Phan Thi Ly, Head of the Department of Medical Environment Management, Department of Medical Environment Management (Ministry of Health) said that in the context of the health sector constantly improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, the movement "Green - clean - beautiful hospital" is being strongly implemented in many medical facilities across the country.
Phu Tho and Quang Ninh are two pioneering provinces, standing out in building a safe, friendly and sustainable medical examination and treatment environment. In the future, it is hoped that green, clean and beautiful hospital models can be replicated nationwide to contribute to improving the quality of medical services and comprehensive health for the people.
