Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first hospital in India and southern Asia, and only the fifth worldwide, to receive the Joint Commission International’s (JCI) Certificate of Distinction in Healthcare Sustainability. This prestigious certificate, launched in January 2025, recognizes hospitals that demonstrate measurable reductions in their environmental impact while maintaining high standards of clinical care.
To achieve this certification, the hospital had to show progress in areas such as energy use, emissions, materials management, and sustainable clinical practices. The hospital’s CEO, Dr. Santosh Shetty, highlighted several key changes that contributed to this achievement. One significant shift was the switch to low-emission anaesthetic gases in the operating theatres, which sharply reduced the hospital’s clinical carbon output. The hospital also transitioned to low-carbon inhalers, which release significantly fewer greenhouse emissions than traditional metered-dose inhalers.
In addition, the hospital introduced serum tube consolidation in its laboratories, reducing the number of tubes required per patient sample and cutting plastic consumption, chemical waste, and the overall carbon footprint of lab operations. Other initiatives included adopting turbine-based ventilators, installing LED surgical lights, and shifting to diagnostic systems that require fewer materials per test.
The JCI auditors evaluated the hospital’s changes and found that they had translated into clear, measurable reductions in emissions and resource use across routine clinical work. Kokilaben Hospital’s achievement is a significant milestone, not only for the hospital but also for the healthcare industry as a whole. It demonstrates that it is possible to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high standards of clinical care, and sets a benchmark for other hospitals to follow. The hospital’s commitment to sustainability is a testament to its dedication to providing high-quality patient care while also protecting the environment.