This document discusses a UN initiative for green procurement in the health sector. It aims to lead by example through reducing the environmental burden of the health sector. The initiative has three main outputs: 1) Establishing evidence-based standards for green procurement in health, 2) Training procurement officers and practitioners, and 3) Engaging stakeholders. It aims for transformational change by setting green procurement guidelines, implementing $3 billion in green procurement, and engaging purchasers and suppliers. Examples of low-hanging fruits include phasing out mercury and PVC, which have cost-effective alternatives and environmental/health issues.

1. Dr. Christoph Hamelmann
UNDP RBEC Regional Team Leader
HIV, Health and Development
c
UN Initiative on Green
Procurement in the Health Sector
UNDP Global Fund Partnership Meeting
Istanbul, 16-17 June 2014

2. Virtuous Circle of Green Procurement
in the Health Sector

3. • Vision: Lead by example - a reduced environmental burden by
the health sector
• Desired Impact: UN health sector procurement policies and
practices promote and protect health and do not adversely
impact on the environment or on human health and well-being
• Outcome: UN agencies adopt and implement environmentally
sound procurement policies and practices in the health sector
Joint UN Programme Green Procurement
in the Health Sector

4. • Output 1: Evidence based standards for “green” procurement in
the health sector are established, and activities to address
research gaps are initiated
• Output 2: UN procurement officers and health sector
practitioners operationalize green procurement in the health
sector
• Output 3: Key stakeholders such as suppliers/manufacturers,
global health financing institutions and development partners
are engaged and introduce envionmental safeguard policies and
practices
Key Outputs of the Joint UN Programme

5. Aiming for Transformational Change
Transformational Change
$3 billion $3 trillionJoint UN Programme
Global
Intl
FundsUN
Natl
Publ
Procur
Global
Health
Industry
Normative:
Green Procurement
guidelines
Operational:
$3 billion of
procurement
Stakeholder
Engagement
Purchasers,
suppliers/manufact
urers
UN
Health Sector
Procurement
Current paradigm

6. • The Minamata Convention (ratified in January 2013) is an
agreement between governments to ban products using
mercury by 2020
• Cost-effective alternatives for nearly all uses of mercury in health
care do exist
Examples of ‘Low Hanging Fruits’
Mercury

7. • PVC in health care causes a number of problems for health and
the environment:
– Manufacturing: high energy consumption and increased rates of cancer and other
illnesses
– Usage: to be usable it has to be softened with phthalates: DEHP (most common)
which has shown reproductive toxicity
– Disposal: Poor waste incineration may generate and spread toxic dioxins
• Alternatives exist for devices, and are available at equivalent cost
• Example: Stockholm County Council started to procure PVC free
gloves 20 years ago, avoiding 200 tonnes of PVC every year. Now
they are not more expensive than PVC gloves
Examples of ‘Low Hanging Fruits’
PVC

8. Examples of ‘Low Hanging Fruits’
Existing Substitutions lists

11. General Environmental Safeguard Analysis
HIV
Programs
Pharmaceutical
Waste
Target Waste StreamTB
Programs
Malaria
Programs
Identification of Waste Stream
WASTE A WASTE B
Sector Concept
Planning Guide
Operation Guide
Greening
Procurement
ImpactAnalysis&Evaluation
Continuous
Improvement
Healthcare Waste Toolkit

12. *UNFPA private sector progressive implementation policy
Progressive Supplier Engagement*

14. Leadership and Innovations

16. Thank You!
christoph.hamelmann@undp.org
Twitter: @cahamelmann
volker.welter@undp.org
Secretariat iIATT-SPHS
Related presentations:
http://www.slideshare.net/undpeuropeandcis/greening-the-health-
sector-pharmaceuticals-and-climate-change
http://www.slideshare.net/undpeuropeandcis/greening-the-health-
sector-global-health-initiatives-and-climate-change
Transformational Change
Global
Intl
FundsUN
Natl
Publ
Procur
Global
Health
Industry