During the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) in Geneva, medical and health organizations from around the world came together to send a strong message: plastic pollution represents a global health emergency, and the health sector must take responsibility in the international treaty aimed at putting an end to it.
On August 7, the organization Health Care Without Harm, along with allies such as the World Medical Association and the International Council of Nurses, presented an open letter to the negotiating committee.
In it, they request to revoke general exemptions for the health sector in the plastic treaty and, instead, establish specific considerations that recognize its environmental impact and promote more sustainable practices.
Plastics in Health: A Silent Risk for Patients and Professionals
Plastics used in the healthcare sector release hazardous chemicals, contribute to climate change, and break down into microplastics linked to cancer, infertility, and hormonal disorders.
According to Will Clark, international director of Health Care Without Harm, the sector generates 15 million tons of plastic waste per year, equivalent to seven bags per hospitalized patient.
“There are already safe and proven alternatives, such as reusable and reprocessed medical products,” Clark stated. “Exempting the health sector would set a dangerous precedent that contradicts the principle of ‘do no harm’.”
Medical and Nursing Voices: Ethics, Sustainability, and Urgent Action
Dr. Ashok Philip, President of the World Medical Association, warned that ignoring the role of the health sector in plastic pollution is short-sighted and ethically unacceptable.
On the other hand, Howard Catton, Director of the International Council of Nurses, emphasized that nurses are committed to environmental justice and must be an active part of the solution.
“The protection of human health must go hand in hand with the protection of the planet,” Catton stressed.
Risk of Setback in International Negotiations
Despite the growing consensus on the impacts of plastic on health, negotiations run the risk of weakening the treaty if a broad exemption for the health sector is allowed.
The signing organizations warn that this would further expose patients and healthcare staff to single-use plastic devices containing carcinogens and endocrine disruptors.
Key Requests from the 48 Million Signatories
The signatories of the letter urge negotiators to:
- Reject general exemptions for the health sector (Article 4).
- Strengthen Article 19, which establishes binding health protections throughout the plastic’s lifecycle.
- Promote safe alternatives: non-toxic materials, reusable systems, and sustainable waste management.
- Recognize the health sector as a priority in the elimination of unnecessary and dangerous plastics.
Health Care Without Harm: Leadership in Global Treaty Negotiations
As an official observer in the negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty, Health Care Without Harm works alongside delegations and allies to ensure that the health sector is recognized not only as a contributor to pollution, but as a leader in transitioning towards safer and more sustainable practices.
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