Toward Sustainable Care: Green Solutions for Managing Chronic Conditions
in: Environmentalism in Healthcare: Caring for Tomorrow Ecologically, Jenny Stanford Publishing, pp.149-188, 2026
- Publication Type: Book Chapter / Chapter Research Book
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1201/9781003748694-5
- Publisher: Jenny Stanford Publishing
- Page Numbers: pp.149-188
- Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The intersection of healthcare, environmental sustainability, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) presents a critical challenge in global public health. Healthcare systems must strike a balance between the ecological impact of their operations and the demands of treatment as the prevalence of NCDs increases due to aging populations, urbanization, and environmental factors. This chapter examines how healthcare practices affect the environment, including carbon emissions, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste production, and resource depletion, as well as how pollution and climate change contribute to the increased prevalence of NCDs. Potential remedies are investigated, including sustainable healthcare models, such as green hospital programs, sustainable pharmaceutical solutions, and ecologically friendly therapeutic approaches. This chapter, which takes a multidisciplinary approach, emphasizes the necessity of innovation, education, healthcare reforms, and behavioral change. To address the increasing burden of NCDs and reduce the environmental cost of healthcare.