Singapore has published its first comprehensive report on carbon emissions from the healthcare sector, revealing that hospitals and clinics emit 4.1 million tons of CO₂ equivalent annually — nearly 7% of the nation’s total emissions, surpassing the global average.

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies Are Major Contributors More than 30% of these emissions stem from the production and use of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, making them the single largest source across the healthcare value chain.

Aging Population Drives Higher Emissions Released on September 17 by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) during a sustainability forum co-hosted with the World Health Organization (WHO), the study found that Singapore’s per-capita healthcare emissions exceed the global average, comparable to Japan and South Korea. Nonetheless, the country’s overall healthcare carbon footprint remains 20% lower than that of other developed nations.

Senior Minister of State for Health Tan Kiat How highlighted that Singapore’s rapidly aging population, rising demand for specialized care, and higher healthcare standards are increasing per-capita emissions.

In 2022, the sector’s carbon output was equivalent to the electricity consumption of 1.4 million households, nearly 7% of national emissions — higher than the global average of 4.4% and exceeding the combined emissions from global shipping and aviation.

Healthcare Value-Chain Emissions Breakdown

· Pharmaceuticals and medical supplies: 32% (e.g., bandages, thermometers, asthma inhalers, high-impact anesthetic gases such as desflurane and nitrous oxide)

· Construction and maintenance of healthcare facilities: 19%

· Non-clinical services (labs, laundry, cleaning, catering): 17%

· Electricity, water, and medical waste incineration: 14%

· Digital infrastructure: 13%

· Transport: 5%

The report underscores the need for targeted interventions across the healthcare value chain to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining high standards of patient care.

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