Medlab Middle East 2023, held from 6-9 February 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, put the focus on sustainability with the theme: ‘Paving the way for sustainability in laboratory medicine’.
During a panel discussion by global leaders in the field who spoke at the ‘Sustainability in the clinical lab conference’ it was noted that the sustainability strategies of clinical laboratories are crucial to reducing the environmental burden of the healthcare sector.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Rana Nabulsi, Head of Operations and Quality-Pathology and Genetics at Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said: “Climate change is a big responsibility for us all. It is a global issue that we all need to devote our attention, commitment, and leadership.
“2023 is mandated by the UAE Government to be the ‘year of sustainability’, and Dubai will host COP 28 in November this year. This crisis is going beyond national borders, and we have to build leadership at the top to keep our planet safe, save resources for future generations, improve biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions.”
Other speakers at the conference included Dr Bernard Gouget, Assistant Professor, Fédération Hospitalière de France, who led a session on ‘green’ labs and how to get started. He said: “Sustainability is now becoming a way of life as global concern for the environment grows. Medical labs are an important part of hospitals and healthcare systems, so we must be engaged in this dynamic area.
“It is essential to distinguish between ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’. Green practices are, of course, very important for the environment, but sustainability addresses the long-term picture for future generations,” he added.
Gouget noted that there are many ways in which a lab can address sustainability. Following international guidelines from bodies such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) was outlined as one of the main strategies at the session.
The two preferred tools for labs are ISO 26000-2010 and ISO 14001-2015. ISO 26000-2010 provides social responsibility guidelines such as transparency, ethical behaviour, human rights and respect for stakeholder interests. ISO 14001-2015 focuses on Environmental Management Systems (EMS). EMS adoption also offers potential commercial advantages by reducing the risk of government-imposed fines, lowering energy consumption, improving resource efficiency and optimising waste management processes.
