Chris Taylor
Sustainability Lead UKI, Government & Public Affairs
Healthcare accounts for approximately 4-5% of global CO₂ emissions, and Ireland is no exception. Like health systems worldwide, Ireland needs to balance delivering high-quality care while reducing its environmental footprint.
The HSE Climate Action Strategy 2023-2050 stresses that meaningful progress requires collective action, meaning hospitals, suppliers, clinicians and communities must work together.
The urgency of sustainable healthcare
Reducing emissions is inseparable from improving population health, as climate-driven factors such as heat, air pollution and shifting disease patterns are already influencing clinical demand.
Innovation and transformation
Within Ireland, the most carbon-intensive aspects of healthcare are hospital buildings, energy consumption and the broader supply chain. Imaging particularly contributes significantly due to its high-power requirements and complex materials. However, technological innovation is reshaping sustainability in this area.
Modern MRI platforms now incorporate helium-efficient systems, represented by sealed-magnet designs like Philips BlueSeal, which use less than 0.5% of the helium previously required. This breakthrough not only reduces dependence on scarce resources but also strengthens the resilience and sustainability of healthcare services.
Similarly, next-generation CT systems offer workflow efficiencies that can reduce scan setup times by over 50%, lowering energy use per patient and streamlining care pathways.
Digital transformation is accelerating these changes. Remote clinical support, virtual training and connected-care pathways are reducing travel for both patients and clinicians, a key contributor to healthcare emissions. This shift aligns with the HSE’s growing emphasis on digital innovation, service redesign and community-centred models of care.
Ireland’s opportunity
Sustainability is now central to healthcare planning in Ireland. The country has a unique opportunity to lead by adopting circular-economy principles, investing in longer-life equipment, ensuring transparent reporting and developing low-carbon digital pathways. Through collaboration across the Irish health ecosystem, Ireland can build a cleaner, more resilient system that’s better prepared for climate risks and supports healthier people and a healthier planet.
Partnering for a sustainable future
Philips is proud to support Ireland’s healthcare system in its journey toward a low-carbon future. From helium-free MRI technology like BlueSeal to energy-efficient CT platforms and digital solutions that reduce travel emissions, Philips delivers innovations that make healthcare greener, smarter and more resilient.
