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The Ministry of Health (MOH) is stepping up its commitment to sustainability by piloting renewable energy initiatives through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) at selected healthcare facilities within the Klang Valley. The ministry is also establishing the Centre for Healthcare Engineering Brilliance, Research and Innovation (BRAIN) and promoting the use of biodegradable alternatives to support the circular economy. Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni announced these efforts at the Green Healthcare Facilities Conference 2025, themed From Vision to Action: Shaping the Future of a Green and Healthy Environment. He emphasized that these initiatives represent long-term investments in climate resilience, resource efficiency, and sustainable healthcare operations, rather than isolated actions. “A sustainable health system requires continuous innovation and smart financing,” Lukanisman stated during his keynote address. Also attending the conference were Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Health Director-General Datuk Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan. Lukanisman urged the healthcare sector to act boldly, stressing that the next decade would demand movement beyond basic compliance and minimum standards. He called on the ministry to lead by example in building design, critical system operations, technical team training, and community engagement in planetary health initiatives. “A healthy planet is essential for healthy people. Thus, I urge each of you to take ownership of this mission. When the health sector acts with courage, others will follow,” he said. Reflecting on the progress made under the MOH’s Sustainability Programme 2015–2025, Lukanisman noted significant achievements, including the adoption of energy management systems across hospitals, the attainment of green building certifications for operations and maintenance, improvements in indoor air quality, and the implementation of a sustainable waste management program based on the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R). He emphasized that these transformations were largely driven internally by MOH employees, engineers, healthcare professionals, and concession company partners. In 2023, the MOH launched the Carbon Neutral Healthcare Facilities Blueprint, providing a framework for healthcare facilities to adopt renewable energy, improve water efficiency, and enhance waste management practices as part of broader decarbonization efforts. “Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality across the MOH by 2045, placing us ahead of Malaysia’s national net-zero target by 2050,” Lukanisman said. He further highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the climate crisis is intrinsically linked to public health, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, water insecurity, and air pollution posing increasing threats to healthcare systems and vulnerable populations. “Globally, the healthcare sector is responsible for nearly five per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside healing our patients, we also have a responsibility to protect the environment. This is the paradox we face and the very reason this conference is so important,” he added. |
