The project, ‘The Green Hospital Initiative,’ is being conducted in a primary health care centre serving the Bandra slums of Mumbai in India since April 2021. The hospital environment suffers from air and noise pollution during the busy morning hours. Besides, there is poor disposal of specific waste products, such as masks, gloves, and cotton bandages.

The hospital administration formed a committee consisting of the paediatrics house officer, medical officer, patient representative, and social worker. They audited the hospital waste disposal and also assessed the factors contributing to the hospital pollution. The conclusions were drafted into an official document and sent to the municipal corporation office, asking for assistance and sanctioning required funds.

The municipal corporation created a no-parking zone in front of the hospital. The committee planted trees near the hospital gate, creating two strips of green plants on either side of the gate. We incorporated special dustbins to dispose of personal protective equipment in hospital wards and patient waiting areas. The nursing staff organized weekly awareness sessions for the hospital workers and patients.

We plan to assess the impact of our intervention in September 2021 by taking structured feedback from the patients, carers, hospital staff, nurses, medical officers, and the hospital superintendent. The feedback will cover the improvements in waste disposal, reduction in vehicular congestion, and overall improvement in the hospital’s aesthetics.

The hospital’s responsibility is to decrease patient exposure to harmful pollution and educate the patients and their families about environmental health. The hospitals can lead by example and provide a strong basis for the implementation of eco-friendly measures. Health professionals are influential local leaders, and therefore, they could guide the patients on how to decrease environmental pollution and guard themselves against it.