Learn about the economic benefits of carbon-minimal inhalers.
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OHE Bulletin
Guest editor: Grace Hampson | Associate Director
Sustainability cannot be a footnote
As we’re seeing with the recent wildfires in California and the destruction caused by Storm Eowyn here in the UK, climate disasters – and their subsequent impact on health – are becoming increasingly urgent. Now more than ever, it’s clear that sustainability cannot be a footnote in the life sciences sector; it needs to be a core consideration.
and price parity with current pMDIs, a move to carbon-minimal pMDIs in the UK could reduce emissions by 1,720-2,513 kgCO2e per asthma patient over their lifetime. If all people in the UK were to receive carbon minimal pMDIs instead of their current pMDI, it would save carbon emissions up to the value of £112 to 167 million annually, representing 7-10% of the reductions needed for the NHS to reach net zero by 2040.
OHE is also working closely with Wellcome and LSHTM on the The ECO-CHICA project. This research will bring together insights from environmental economics and health economics to identify appropriate methods for economic evaluation and the valuation of health co-benefits when assessing the impact of climate action or inaction.
OHE’s latest Innovation Policy Prize also asked participants to consider how to incentivize environmentally sustainable innovation in the life sciences. The Prize was jointly awarded to Professor Andrew Briggs and Professor Thomas Pogges in a ceremony last month, whose submissions can be read online.
New Publication
Towards Net-zero Healthcare Systems: Establishing the Economic Value of Carbon-Minimal pMDI
Current inhalers, especially pMDIs, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, a factor overlooked in health economic assessments. Transitioning to carbon-minimal pMDIs could reduce emissions, save millions in costs, and help the UK reach its NHS carbon reduction targets.
Driving Green Change: Lessons from the 2024 Innovation Policy Prize
The 2024 Innovation Policy Prize spotlighted bold solutions for sustainable innovation in the life sciences. This year’s winners, Professors Andrew Briggs and Thomas Pogge, proposed forward-thinking policies to align economic incentives with sustainability and drive green innovation in lower-income countries.
Navigating the Intersection of Healthcare and Environmental Sustainability: ISPOR Europe round-up on the inclusion of environmental impact in HTA
Healthcare systems make up 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s no surprise that sustainability is becoming a bigger conversation in health technology assessment (HTA). At ISPOR Europe 2023, speakers discussed what it would take to bring environmental impact into the HTA process.
Green Healthcare: Are We Asking the Right Questions?
This webinar brought together voices from government, healthcare, industry, and academia to answer: how can we make healthcare more sustainable without breaking the bank? The panel talked about bold ideas, from rethinking policies to finding economic strategies that balance health and environmental goals.
