Friday 15 August 2025 | 10:50-12:20 

Format: Presentation

Stream: Change

Part 1: Heal Our Patients, Heal Our Planet Make Earth Day, Every Day

Known as the Jurong Health Campus, the 700-bed acute hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and 400-bed Jurong Community Hospital (JCH) are the first hospitals in Singapore to be designed and built together from the ground up as an integrated healthcare development. NTFGH and JCH were envisioned to transform the way healthcare is provided and our hospitals come with thoughtful features that are built around our patients’ needs. The smart, green, and sustainable hospitals were designed to ensure patient-centred services are delivered in a seamless and integrated way and significantly promote the aid patients in their healing and recovery. An oasis in a dense city, NTFGH & JCH has won eight hospital design awards, both locally & internationally as healthcare facilities that create a conducive healing environment for patients, visitors, and staff and sustainable hospital design. The super energy-efficient design utilizes 38 percent less energy than a typical Singaporean hospital and 69 percent less than the average U.S. hospital.

Kian Ng Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, National University Health System; Singapore

Part 2: All Hands on Deck, Making Healthcare Sustainability a Reality in Singapore

This session explores the integration of sustainability into healthcare improvement practices, highlighting the role of the CHI Sustainability Academy (CHI SA) in building thought leadership and equipping healthcare professionals with tools and resources. By adapting the Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI) Framework for Singapore in partnership with the UK Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, CHI SA empowers local teams to incorporate sustainability into their improvement initiatives.

Wong Hon Tym Centre for Healthcare Innovation, National Healthcare Group; Singapore

Part 3: Decarbonizing healthcare: Driving environmental sustainability as a pillar of healthcare excellence

In this session, we will explore innovative strategies that not only reduce environmental impact but also enhance patient care. Through case studies, participants will gain practical insights to drive environmental sustainability in their organizations. Join us to discover how going green can lead to safer, higher-quality healthcare while contributing to a healthier planet. This session is essential for healthcare leaders committed to future-proofing their institutions and improving patient health.

Eugene Liu National University Health System; Singapore

Part 4: Balancing safety and sustainability: the impact of national PPE step-down strategies on healthcare workers and the environment

Singapore was among the first countries to implement PPE step-down measures for COVID-19. In September 2023, the Singapore Ministry of Health revised the national personal protective equipment (PPE) guideline for healthcare personnel (HCPs) attending to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, recommending the use of N95 respirators alone. However, data on the impact of PPE de-escalation on staff COVID-19 incidence and sustainability outcomes are limited. Following de-escalation in PPE use in Singapore, what was the incidence of COVID-19 among staff and how did the amount of plastic waste change? This retrospective review analysed hospital PPE usage for quality improvement to evaluate staff COVID-19 incidence post PPE de-escalation, as well as the economic and environmental impacts. Sustainability measures included changes in carbon footprint, plastic waste generation, and cost savings of removing single-use gowns from routine COVID-19 care. Considering the importance of addressing climate change, there is an urgent need for better evidence, and to critically re-evaluate our approaches for recommended PPE for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Stephanie Sutjipto National Centre for Infectious Diseases; Singapore