As we confront the global challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and pollution, the need for sustainable healthcare has never been more urgent.
Planetary health, the idea that human well-being is deeply connected to the health of our planet, has become a core principle in medical education and practice. To meet these challenges, it is crucial that future doctors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to understand and address the environmental factors affecting health.
The Education for Sustainable Healthcare (ESH) curriculum
The ESH curriculum offers a comprehensive framework for integrating sustainability into UK medical education. It aims not only to teach medical students about sustainability but also to empower them to make decisions that benefit both their patients and the planet.
Key principles
- Understanding that human health is intrinsically linked to the health of the planet, and that protecting the environment is essential for sustaining life on Earth.
- Addressing how environmental damage, such as climate change, disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, and advocating for health equity.
- Integrating sustainable practices into clinical decision-making to reduce the environmental footprint of healthcare while improving patient care.
Curriculum integration
Medical schools across the UK are increasingly integrating ESH principles into their curricula, aiming to produce doctors who are not only skilled clinicians but also environmentally conscious professionals.
Key areas of integration include:
- introducing environmental health topics
- teaching sustainable practices in medical specialties
Examples of topics include:
- impact of air pollution
- climate change and biodiversity loss on human health
- reducing resource waste in surgery
- adopting eco-friendly approaches in mental health and primary care
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