In November 2021, the 4th Saving Lives Sustainably: Sustainable Production in the Health Sector Global Forum 2021 brought together suppliers and manufacturers, policymakers, regulators, technical experts, academia, and civil society organisations from across the global health care industry. During two days, experts discussed sustainable practices and recommendations for the health care sector, highlighted the intersections between climate change and global health, and the necessary transitions needed for a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Forum report provides good practice examples and suggestions on environmental and social sustainability in the production, supply and procurement of health commodities, delivery of health care services and management of associated waste in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Global Forum 2021 was held on 17–18 November 2021, under the theme, “Strengthening
Sustainability in the Health Sector Supply Chains in the midst of COVID-19.” The two-day event,
hosted by Colombia, was co-organised by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), Fundación Valle del Lili, Health Care Without Harm, and Secretariat of the UN informal
Interagency Task Team on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector (SPHS), with the support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).