ABSTRACT
@#The Sixth Environmental and Occupational Health Forum, conducted virtually on November 23 to 24, 2023, focused on "Accelerating the Development of Healthy and climate-smart Hospitals in the Southeast Asian Region." This forum, a collaborative effort of the University of the Philippines Manila and Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia, aimed to explore and exchange strategies, challenges, and innovative practices for integrating environmental sustainability in healthcare settings across Southeast Asia. The event gathered healthcare professionals, policymakers, and environmental experts to discuss the transformation of hospitals into health and climate-smart institutions. Keynote speakers from various countries presented case studies and research findings, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches that include policy development, stakeholder engagement, and continuous education. Significant outcomes highlighted were the identification of effective policies for sustainable hospitals, understanding the impact of healthcare facilities on climate change, and the necessity for political acumen in promoting environmental stewardship in healthcare. The forum concluded with a consensus on the critical need for ongoing collaboration and innovation in environmental and occupational health, underscoring the importance of transforming healthcare facilities into entities that prioritize both patient care and planetary health.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Occupational HealthABSTRACT
@#Even after two years, the COVID-19 pandemic still disrupts public activities and services as it exposes vulnerabilities among the population and negatively impacts environmental conditions. The crisis also impeded global progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The Fourth Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) Forum held virtually on November 25 to 26, 2021 provided a venue for learning about local and international COVID-19 responses to help prepare for the next global crisis. Through the systems thinking approach, the discussions prioritized analyses of leadership and governance, financing, human resource, technologies, information management, and service delivery. These analyses focused on community and/or workplace programs and services linked to air quality, waste management, psychosocial wellness, and COVID-19 vaccination. The forum amplified calls for climate actions and public health improvement and emphasized the significance of a collaborative, evidence-based, integrated public health response to a crisis underscoring the apparent interdependence of the SDGs.