Environmental costs in healthcare system: the case studies of Greece health care

Climate change is considered one of the greatest threats to environmental sustainability, human health and social well-being worldwide. The healthcare sector is one of the main actors with a strong negative environmental footprint, being responsible for about 4% of global emissions, and is also considered one of the costliest sectors, with healthcare spending absorbing about 10% of global economic output. This article examines the environmental costs of the healthcare system in Greece, with a focus on public hospitals. The data analysis methodology was based on linear ordinary regression (OLS) models to calculate environmental costs related to energy consumption, waste management and water consumption. Data was collected through the Ministry of Health’s platform (BI Health) and analyzed using Stata software. The main findings suggest that environmental costs are a significant part of total operating costs, particularly in university and specialist hospitals. Factors such as the number of beds, the existence of special units (e.g. ICU) and the use of natural gas have a significant impact on environmental costs. The study offers a mathematical model for predicting environmental costs, which can help hospital administrators to make decisions about sustainable practices. This model could provide an important opportunity for practical application to make targeted decisions such as investing in sustainable technologies, improving energy efficiency and enhancing waste management, leading to cost-effective and environmentally sustainable practices.