Networks

www.noharm.org/europe

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups.

Its mission is to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment.

In Europe, their activities are coordinated through three working groups.

Waste

The Waste Work Group is working to eliminate the practice of incinerating medical waste by demonstrating that it is possible to segregate and recycle categories of waste which do not pose a risk of transmission of infection, whilst for the remaining infectious waste there are economically and environmentally preferable alternatives to waste incineration.

Safer Materials

The mission of the Safer Materials Work Group is to catalyse change in the choices the health care sector makes about which chemicals and materials to use. At the moment the workgroup is focusing on phasing PVC plastic, phthalates and mercury out of health care.

Good Practice

The Good Practice Workgroup promotes green purchasing, healthy food and environmentally sustainable practices in hospitals. By providing educational materials, technical assistance and opportunities for collaboration with healthcare professionals in health systems, professional associations, and individual healthcare facilities this workgroup facilitates the practical changes which bring about HCWHE's goals.

Activities

Hospitals in the 27
EU Member States

Quality of care

Human resources

Public health

Hospital, health care
and internal market

e-Health

Cross-border
co-operation

Green hospitals
Environment policy
Energy performances:
good practices
Networks

Networking