Healthcare systems worldwide accounted for about 5% of global carbon emissions—surpassing those from aviation and shipping. Around 71% of this footprint came from the supply chain of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, including manufacturing, packaging, transport, and disposal. Without urgent action, the World Economic Forum projected this impact could triple by 2050. In Southeast Asia (SEA), healthcare systems consume large amounts of resources and contribute to environmental damage through high energy use, medical waste, and unsustainable procurement. Growing awareness of climate change underscored the need for climate-friendly procurement practices.

Green procurement, which focuses on purchasing goods and services with minimal environmental impact, helped reduce carbon emissions, improve efficiency, and promote sustainability. Solutions such as products with reduced packaging, longer durability, and digital systems lowered operational costs and waste while improving safety. However, SEA countries faced significant barriers, including higher upfront costs, limited sustainable suppliers, cultural resistance, lack of measurement standards, and a pandemic-driven reliance on single-use products.

The SECURE Webinar Series, organized under ADB technical assistance projects TA 6767-REG and TA 10485-REG, provided a platform for governments, private sector actors, development partners, and civil society to share knowledge and best practices for climate-resilient health systems. The session aimed to share experiences and solutions for advancing green procurement, raise awareness among key stakeholders, and explore policy strategies and investment opportunities for scaling sustainable procurement practices.