Sustainable Medical Practices Newsletter #2

The aim of this newsletter is to provide updates on our work towards Sustainable Medical Practices - what we're learning, what we're planning, and how we can all contribute to providing high-quality care that does not harm the health of the communities we work with or the planet we live on.

Newsletter #2 - "Identifying the Hotspots"

Medical facilities have an environmental impact, but not all activities contribute equally. By identifying the areas with the greatest impact, we can focus our efforts where they matter most.

This month, we're sharing resources for three key priorities regarding medical practices:
examination gloves, IV treatments, and reusable alternatives.

Single Use Examination Gloves

In MSF, examination gloves are the single-use medical item most commonly used, and are the most important in terms of financial expenses and environmental impact. They're often worn unnecessarily, generating waste and potentially compromising patient safety. The principle is simple: gloves protect patients and staff when they are used correctly, but unnecessary use might compromise safety.

The solution? Promoting rational use, as it was already done in MSF during the World Hand Hygiene Day 2025, the Wear with Care campaign in OCG and OCB, or in Emergency Rooms and ICUs in the UK.

Rational Prescription of IV Treatments

Every injection requires numerous single-use items: syringes, needles, catheters, and infusion sets. Implementing rational prescription of IV treatments can improve patient safety, and significantly reduce medical waste! The key is to switch from IV to oral formulations as soon as it is clinically appropriate, as recommended in MSF Essential Drugs (pg. 471) or MSF's ICU Best Practices Checklist.

Want to know more? Check out this poster and briefing document. Explore some of these key publications from Singapore, the Netherlands, or the United Kingdom.

Promote Reusable Alternatives

Where sterilisation and laundry facilities are available, reusable alternatives can replace single-use items without compromising safety or quality of care. From operating theatre attire and surgical drapes to ECG electrodes, tourniquets, spacers, or menstrual hygiene products, reusable options reduce waste while maintaining clinical and safety standards.

Want to know more? Check out the "Reusable First" guide from Canada, discover this pilot (Beira Project, OCB) and explore this poster regarding the use of Reusable Menstrual Hygiene products.

Why Does it Matter?

By focusing on the items we use most frequently and in the largest volumes, we can achieve meaningful reductions in waste and environmental impact. These changes also align with quality improvement: rational glove use improves hand hygiene compliance and patient safety; appropriate IV-to-oral switches reduce the risk of infection, pain, and length of stay; and well-implemented reusable systems can improve availability of products, and even comfort.

Training Opportunity for Nurses and Midwives!

Learn how to integrate sustainability into clinical practice, and discover how to reduce healthcare's environmental impact while improving quality of care! Join a global network of nurses and midwives committed to healthier patients and a healthier planet!

FREE COURSE offered to registered nurses and midwives, worldwide.

OYA - It's Time!

Singers Mao Sidibé and Defmaa Maadef, with École des Sables dancers, collaborated with MSF to share this message: "Oya", meaning "let's go" or "it's time" in Nigerian. Inspired by MSF testimonies, this is a call for climate action on behalf of the most vulnerable communities.

Global Nursing Conference on Planetary Health (April 21 & 24)

Nurses and midwives from across the world come together for a Global Nursing Conference on Planetary Health - exploring how our environment shapes the health of our patients and communities. Six global regions, keynote presentations, expert panels, and small group discussions.

What's Next?

Next time, we will share a preview of the content we are developing to promote sustainable medical practices in MSF.

Medicine Sans Frontiere - newsletter

Sustainable Medical Practices Newsletter #2

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