A Comprehensive Look at Sustainable Health Care: Key Elements, Ethics

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of sustainable healthcare, highlighting its global impact and key elements across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. It delves into the environmental concerns related to healthcare waste, energy consumption, and resource depletion, emphasizing the need for responsible practices. Social challenges such as religious beliefs, traditional practices, illiteracy, and insecurity are examined for their impact on healthcare delivery. The essay further discusses economic factors, including budget allocation, risky product control, and demographic considerations, advocating for adequate surveillance and subsidized healthcare. Ethical dilemmas related to universal human rights to healthcare, accessibility, quality, affordability, and social determinants are also explored. Finally, it addresses business opportunities and challenges in sustainable healthcare, offering ethical solutions to improve global health sustainability. Desklib offers this assignment solution and many more resources for students.

Running head: SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE 1
Sustainable Health Care
Name:
University:

SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE 2
Sustainable Health Care
Questions: 1
Health care is a key sustainability issue with significant global impact.
Questions: 2
The following are the environmental elements attributed to Health Care with significant
global impact. Most of these issues are interrelated with the decline associated with
environmental degradation. Global healthcare industry consumes a lot of energy, minerals, and
resources generated from the environment (Mohr man, 2012). This calls for all the stakeholders
in health from governments. International non-governmental institutions and policymakers take a
long-term approach to the elements in the environment that affect the health sector.
Environmental pollution from healthcare institutions’ wastage
Health care services damage the environment when waste products are not disposed of
properly. Some of the wastes are infectious and hazardous like heavy metals. To some extent,
these heavy metals like lead metal have proved to have a long-term effect on the environment
affecting crops and animals mostly in developing countries. Apart from affecting the
environment, also poor disposal of human tissues and waste like blood can lead to spread of
epidemics (McMurray, A., 2014).
When proper care isn’t in place during incineration like separating polyvinyl chlorine
carcinogenic dioxins which are harmful to the environment are released (Rosenberg-Yunger, Z.,
et. al., 2008). Health care service providers like medical research institutions, hospitals, and
pharmaceutical organizations have been advised to take diligent care in waste management to
reduce environmental degradation and pollution.

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Energy consumption is also very heavy in the healthcare industry. This affects the
environment negatively if proper measures are not put in place how the wastes are remitted to the
environment. This has proved to cause serious ozone layers challenges affecting the
environment.
Natural Resources and Minerals Depletion
Health care providers rely heavily on natural resources and materials in developing curative
and preventive products (McIntyre, D., 2012). For instance, most of the medicines used in health
services are made from natural resources. Although there has been little study at an empirical
level on the level of environment depletion caused by over mining of these products (McMurray,
A., 2014). Effects to the environment have been felt mostly in developing countries where these
minerals are mined from. In some cases the environment has been severely affected leading to
poor nutrition in crops, hence having malnourished societies.There have also been fears of
extinction of some rare metals and minerals used in pharmaceutical products (Mohrman, S.,
2012). This has called for responsible mining and regulation in the environment to safeguard
future generation’s health care.
Questions: 3
Critical Social Elements of Sustainable Healthcare
Social issues in health care are structured according to different societies and they differ from
one community to another. These issues originate from myths or beliefs that particular
communities do have. Some have proven to be beneficial while others are detrimental to the
health industry and recipients of the health care (Sahay, S., 2014).
Religious Practices and Beliefs

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Most democratic societies allow freedom of belief and practices despite affecting the
development of sustainable healthcare negatively. Some religious beliefs do encourage practices
that encourage the spread of transmittable diseases. Like a community being prohibited from
using prevention during sexual intercourse. This has greatly contributed to the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases. This prevents achievement of sustainable global health care.
Traditional Practices
Outdated traditional practices in developing countries, like female genital mutation, affects
the reproductive health of women (Sahay, S., 2014). This has been a big challenge during
childbirth and maternity. Some social practices like polygamy also affect health care. Having
many sex partners increases the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. In developing countries,
some societies still believe in traditional healing practices. They believe in rituals as a solution to
health care. This has greatly affected the spread of sustainable health in the world.
Illiteracy & Poverty
Societies with high levels of illiteracy and poverty are usually resistant to progressive
healthcare solutions (McMurray, A., 2012). This is evident in maternal health where mothers fail
to observe proper pre-natal and post-natal care. The biggest challenge associated with poverty is
where individuals are unable to afford expensive health services and products. Poor societies
lack proper healthcare specialists and facilities.
Insecurity
Societies that have been ravaged by war or extremists suffer from poor health care. This is
evident in failed states and extremists regions. When a society is at war with its neighbors or
within itself, health care suffers.

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Questions: 4
Key Economic Elements of Sustainable Healthcare
Economics in health care is closely associated with policy issues. The policy comes from
leadership which leads to political goodwill. These economic issues in health care are as follows;
Budget and Financial Allocation
In most countries and jurisdictions healthcare budget is constrained. There is a need for more
funds to be allocated to Non-Communicable Diseases like diabetes and cancer. Most of these
diseases are lifestyle associated. If more funds are allocated to educate the public on healthy
lifestyles, the world will witness a reduction in non-communicable diseases (Sahay, S., 2014).
Research and healthcare institutions should also be adequately funded to ensure quality
service provision. The biggest challenge has been some of the investments in healthcare have
been done mostly with private institutions that are after profits and not benefiting the society.
Risky Products Control
Organizations that produce products that directly or indirectly cause health challenges should
be controlled. This is evident in tobacco products which are the main cause of cancer (Faff, R.
W., 2009). The biggest challenge with tobacco is that it pays heavy taxes to governments. From
the economic perspective, it helps governments to run its operations but causing health problems.
This also applies to alcohol manufacturers.
Demographic-economic zoning
Mostly in developing countries and low-income regions, health care is a big challenge.
Special attention should be directed to these regions by governments and development agencies.

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Adequate Surveillance and Mentoring
Funding should be directed towards proper public health surveillance and monitoring, this
will ensure trends are monitored. Early innervations also make economic sense as its less costly
unlike dealing with a full epidemic.
Subsidizing Healthcare Products and Services
Healthcare is very expensive in most parts of the globe. Despite different administrations
cautioning its citizenry still, a lot needs to be done. Specialized treatment is a very big challenge
to developing countries that have to travel overseas for medication (Sahay, S., 2014).
Questions: 5
Two Ethical Challenges associated with the Global Health Sustainability.
Ethical challenges facing sustainable healthcare depend from one region to another
(Knoepfel, I., 2001). These are the principles and values of the healthcare industry and recipient
societies that are preventing healthcare provision. They include the following:
• Universal human rights to healthcare.
• Social determinants factors to health care.
Questions: 6
Universal human rights to healthcare
Every human being has a right to health care (Pierce, J., 2011). These are fundamental
human right requirements in most countries. Human rights in health care include the right to
proper and standard physical and mental health. Health care takes a very broad approach to
universal human rights. Some of the issues involved in the cost of health care, nutrition and

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affordability. Governments should take into consideration the following measures in developing
sustainable health care.
Accessibility
Health care should be structured to be accessible to everyone in the society. It’s unethical
when only a select few are able to access health care. Accessibility to health care is a very big
challenge in most developing countries which have limited resources. In developed countries like
the USA universal health care is also a challenge to the unemployed (Butler, M., 2016). It’s not
only wrong but also unethical to deny someone the right to healthcare.
Quality Health Care
Having the best health care is a must for all human beings. There is a big challenge in the
provision of quality healthcare in most developing countries. Some of the challenges include lack
of doctors, few hospitals, and clinics, lack of qualified doctors and specialists.
Affordability
Healthcare that isn’t affordable poses a big challenge to human rights. Specialized treatment
is usually expensive in both communicable and non-communicable diseases. These problems
have been compounded by pharmaceuticals charging very high prices for their products. It’s very
unethical for multination’s in health care to be profit driven by the expenses of providing health
care.
Non- discernment
Health care should not discriminate against religion, gender or even sex. It’s very unethical
where someone is prohibited from having health services due to his or her choice of lifestyle. In
some instances, gender has proved to be a big hindrance in health provision.
Public Participation

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Most of the decisions affecting health care must be done in consultations with all
stakeholders involved. For example, in reproductive health, there have been ongoing debates on
issues affecting maternal health. In areas with health pandemics like Ebola, public participation
has also helped in its reduction.
Accountability and Transparency
Personal responsibility is required in all healthcare providers. This becomes ethical in
cases where patients are affected due to negligence associated with healthcare providers. Also,
openness and honesty in data collection are very important in healthcare.
Human Dignity
It’s unethical when health care providers don’t respect the culture and beliefs of communities
where they operate. This evident in situations where some communities stigmatize and
discriminate patients with some conditions. Confidentiality with patients’ information is also
very important.
Social Determinants Factors to Health Care
Social determinants are the issues that determine effective healthcare provision. Economic
status determines the provision of health care in the society. This can include income and
financial status of an individual.Closely linked to social determinants factors are public policy
and legislation. Most governments determine what products used by citizens. Some of these
products contributed to non-communicable diseases. Individual social determinant factors can
also include the following.
• Stress levels
• Lifestyle choices
• Work-related issues like risk factors.

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• Social security and support.
Questions: 7
Sustainable Global Healthcare Challenges and Opportunities To Businesses
Businesses are investing in personal and public health to ensure that both their employees
and customers are healthy. Most businesses would want to invest in companies that promote
health care (Gola, M., 2015). This is evident as many businesses and individuals are getting
involved in public health at the community, national and international levels. In the business
field health care has faced the following opportunities (Sahay, S., 2014).
• Most businesses in their corporate social responsibility have invested heavily in
public health, sponsoring research and actively participating in innervations in cases
of epidemics and health calamities
• Some of the challenges to businesses include litigations from products sold to
consumers. For example companies like Coke and MacDonald’s have been sued
several times for promoting obesity-related diseases. This greatly affects businesses
that have to advertise more and convince the public of the safety of their goods and
services.
• Sustainable universal healthcare has also created many business opportunities in both
the manufacturing and technology industry (Buffoli, M., 2013). New products have
been introduced in the market helping in advancing sustainable healthcare.
Ethical Solutions to Challenges in the Provision of Global Sustainable Healthcare

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Despite the many challenges facing sustainable global healthcare, there have been considerable
breakthroughs in behavioral change, financial models and improved technology providing
solutions (Braa, J., 2014). These challenges have been solved in the following ways.
Accessibility to Healthcare
This used to be a challenge, with innovations in technology healthcare can be transmitted
faster in diagnosis and remote places can be reached through the internet in service delivery
(Albers g., 2012). Financing models by government and financial institutions have ensured that
more funds are allocated to healthcare hence increasing accessibility. Public health participation
has educated most societies on the need to having healthy lifestyles which reduces illness.
Affordability of Healthcare
Financing and subsidizing medication for chronic diseases has made health care affordable
(Berwick, D.M., 2013). This has also been aided by technology where information on the
availability of healthcare is easily available to the public.
Investing in Healthcare
This approach has positively impacted sustainable healthcare by investing in research,
training specialized consultants in medicine, and building and equipping health facilities with
state of the art health equipment.
Technological Innovations
In developed countries, technological innovation has greatly improved healthcare (AnAaker,
A., 2013). Although this is still a very big challenge in developing countries due to high levels of
illiteracy and infrastructure challenges.Sustainable healthcare to be fully effected both the public

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and government stakeholders have to be engaged at the local, national and international level
(Jameson, .2012).

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