Jordan’s MoH, AstraZeneca partner to develop green hospital projects

JORDAN – The Jordanian Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca have joined forces to expedite the development of a green hospital accreditation framework in the Arab nation.

In a joint statement, His Excellency Professor Firas Al Hawari, the Minister of Health in Jordan, said: “With this alliance, we look forward to fulfilling our mission serving our Jordanian communities and environment.”

Professor Firas Al Hawari reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to enhancing the health sector’s resilience by preparing local communities and vulnerable populations to face the effects of climate change while ensuring health equity.

Through a landmark agreement, the Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca will work together to contribute to the sustainability initiative of establishing a green hospital concept in the country.

The agreement’s central aim is to assess carbon footprints, provide solar panels supporting the usage of renewable energy, and deliver a water purification system for the different facilities.

For this reason, the Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca have agreed to facilitate the development of a green hospital accreditation framework in the country.

This partnership is anticipated to play a pivotal role in reducing the carbon footprint and energy use of healthcare buildings and facilities across the Kingdom of Jordan.

“In Jordan, the Ministry of Health is committed to its sustainable vision seeking to reduce the negative impact of health services on the climate,” highlighted Professor Firas Al Hawari.

Globally, the health industry is responsible for an estimated 5% of greenhouse gas emissions every year, and if current trajectories continue, these emissions are predicted to triple by 2050.

The Jordanian Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca possess the expertise and experience required to help organizations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

As specified in the newly forged partnership, the duo has set an ambitious target of delivering more sustainable, low-carbon healthcare in 2024.

The development was sealed by a Memorandum of Understanding by His Excellency Professor Firas Al Hawari, the Minister of Health in Jordan, and Rami Scandar, the Country President for Near East and Maghreb at AstraZeneca.

The official signing ceremony took place at a side event during this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference currently being held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Bearing in mind that the agreement forms an integral part of AstraZeneca’s strong overall presence at the COP28 UN climate summit.

Commenting on this agreement, Rami Scandar, Country President at AstraZeneca, said: “Recognising that no one business, government, or organisation can do it alone, AstraZeneca is committed to playing our part to build a more sustainable healthcare future in Jordan.”

It should be pointed out that attendees at the COP28 UAE are making progress on the sidelines of the climate summit through informal coalition-building.

Building upon the successes of previous conferences, the COP28 UAE’s partnerships team is playing a central role in fostering collaboration.

Launching initiatives in energy, finance, technology, food security, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions, the COP28 UAE’s partnerships team has successfully sought cooperation on a global and local scale.

The partnerships team at the COP28 UAE is bringing together organizations, corporations, and communities to generate a lasting impact on the climate change agenda.

AstraZeneca’s goal at the COP28 climate summit

In a demonstration of the company’s ongoing commitment to the Middle East and Africa region, AstraZeneca has joined global health and climate leaders to raise awareness of the climate-health crisis.

On the matter of interconnected challenges, Rami Scandar pointed out: “The detrimental health impacts of climate change on people and the planet are being increasingly felt, including through a rise in chronic and infectious diseases.”

AstraZeneca has raised awareness of the climate-health crisis and shared bold and scalable in a move to inspire action across and beyond the health sector at the COP28 conference.

Additionally, the company reaffirmed its commitment to its Ambition Zero Carbon programme, which aims to deliver decarbonisation across the global company’s value chain.

Pascal Soriot, the Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca, also participated in a COP28 event co-hosted by the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization.

Under the tagline “Reimagining Sustainable Healthcare”, the event gathered various health ministers and changemakers from across the Middle East and North Africa to drive momentum to achieve sustainable, resilient healthcare systems in the region.

For his part, Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, said: “Urgent, transformative action is needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect the health of people, society, and our planet.”

Pascal Soriot urged the global community to rethink the delivery of healthcare and build resilient health systems that are more equitable and transitioning to net zero.

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