World Environment Day: Apollo Navi Mumbai GM Saigon KP Varghese on India’s Healthcare Sustainability Shift
By Arunima Rajan
On World Environment Day, Saigon KP Varghese, General Manager of Operations at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, shares with Arunima Rajan that Indian healthcare is witnessing a shift in its approach to sustainability.
Why do you think the carbon footprint of hospitals has not become a mainstream issue in Indian healthcare yet?
The carbon footprint of hospitals hasn’t yet gained mainstream traction in Indian healthcare largely due to the sector’s historic emphasis on volume and access over environmental metrics. For decades, the focus has rightly been on saving lives, reducing disease burden, and expanding care across a vast, diverse population. In this urgent context, sustainability was often seen as an afterthought—something nice to have rather than a necessity. Moreover, there’s limited awareness about how deeply interconnected environmental sustainability is with human health outcomes. However, climate-related health crises, rising energy costs, and resource constraints are forcing a rethink. Slowly but steadily, the conversation is evolving from ‘why sustainability?’ to ‘how can we integrate it without disrupting care?’ This shift in mindset is critical to moving sustainability from the margins to the mainstream in Indian healthcare.
What do you see as the biggest contributors to environmental impact in a typical hospital setting?
Hospitals, by design, are resource-intensive environments. The largest contributors to environmental impact typically include energy consumption from heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and medical equipment; high water usage in sanitation, sterilization, and cooling systems; and the substantial volume of solid and biomedical waste generated every day. Additionally, construction materials used in hospital infrastructure—especially non-renewable and virgin materials—further increase environmental load. The use of disposable medical supplies, while often critical for infection control, adds to the volume of single-use plastics and packaging. Without robust energy efficiency, water conservation systems, or waste segregation mechanisms in place, even small inefficiencies can compound into significant ecological damage. Therefore, reducing this impact requires a 360-degree strategy spanning design, procurement, operations, and clinical practices.
Can you recall a moment or situation when you became aware of the environmental cost of medical care?
One pivotal moment that made the environmental cost of medical care strikingly clear was during our initial resource audit at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai. As we began measuring energy use, water consumption, and waste generation systematically, the scale of our environmental footprint—even in a single month—was eye-opening. The numbers weren’t just data points—they were signals of the hidden ecological burden behind each test, surgery, and therapy we offered. That moment shifted our thinking from reactive conservation to proactive sustainability. It was no longer just about cost-saving or compliance. We realised that true healing must extend beyond the patient and also include the environment they live in. That realisation became the cornerstone of our green building initiatives and operational reforms.
Has your hospital ever attempted to calculate its carbon footprint or conduct an energy or waste audit?
Yes, at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, sustainability is not a theoretical goal—it’s a measurable, data-driven discipline. We have conducted detailed energy and water audits, as well as regular waste assessments, to understand our environmental footprint. These efforts have helped us achieve remarkable outcomes: for example, conserving over 45,000 MWh of energy through smart lighting, HVAC efficiency, and building design improvements. We’ve also saved more than 266,000 kilolitres of water through rainwater harvesting and efficient plumbing fixtures. Our waste audits have led to better segregation and composting practices that have diverted nearly 1,000 tonnes of organic waste away from landfills. Calculating our impact has allowed us to refine our strategies and embed sustainability as an operational pillar—not just a marketing point. We are also proud winners of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Platinum Certification, which is a recognition of our exceptional sustainability performance.
If not, what do you think has prevented that kind of assessment from happening in other hospitals?
Many hospitals that haven’t yet embarked on sustainability audits often face a blend of perceived and practical challenges. Firstly, there’s a common belief that sustainability assessments are complex, expensive, or disruptive to daily operations—when in fact, most are cost-effective and highly insightful. Secondly, in the absence of regulatory mandates or clear industry benchmarks, administrators may not see an immediate incentive. Additionally, hospitals often operate with tight margins and stretched teams, making it difficult to allocate bandwidth for what’s mistakenly seen as a non-core activity. Lastly, there’s a cultural inertia—change can be daunting, and unless there’s top-down commitment, even well-meaning initiatives fail to gain traction. However, leading institutions are beginning to show that such assessments are not only feasible, but transformative for long-term cost savings and resilience.
From a doctor’s perspective, where do you think sustainability improvements can be made without compromising patient safety?
From a clinician’s standpoint, there are several low-risk, high-reward opportunities for sustainable improvement that do not compromise, and can in fact enhance, patient safety. For instance, improving the efficiency of sterilization cycles, using LED surgical lighting, and shifting to energy-efficient medical equipment can dramatically reduce energy usage without clinical risk. Transitioning to reusable instruments where applicable, reducing unnecessary diagnostic testing, and even optimizing operating room scheduling can cut emissions and waste. Infection control need not be compromised—in fact, strategies like better indoor air filtration systems or the use of non-toxic surface disinfectants can support both sustainability and hygiene. Doctors are uniquely positioned to lead such shifts, provided they are involved early in infrastructure and policy decisions.
Are you aware of any small changes within your hospital that have reduced environmental impact in a meaningful way?
Yes, several small yet strategic changes have yielded meaningful environmental benefits at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai. For example, our installation of a 250 kg/day organic waste composter has diverted approximately 970 tonnes of biodegradable waste from landfills,
significantly reducing methane emissions. Upgrading to smart lighting systems and envelope-efficient architectural features has slashed electricity consumption while enhancing comfort for patients and staff. Even switching to water-efficient faucets and low-flow plumbing systems has helped conserve over 266,000 kilolitres of water. These initiatives may seem modest individually, but together they represent a cultural shift—demonstrating that impactful sustainability doesn’t always require massive investment, just intent and consistency.
What challenges come up when trying to implement environmentally friendly practices in clinical care?
Implementing green practices in clinical settings presents several nuanced challenges. Foremost is ensuring that patient safety and care quality are never compromised. Many sustainability measures—like reducing single-use items—must be carefully balanced with infection control requirements. Second, there’s a need to retrain staff and update protocols, which can be resource-intensive and require change management. Third, supply chains for green-certified or biodegradable alternatives may be limited, unreliable, or more expensive, creating procurement bottlenecks. Additionally, doctors and nurses often operate under intense pressure, and may perceive sustainability as an added burden unless integrated seamlessly into workflows. Overcoming these barriers requires strong leadership, pilot-based implementation, and a clear demonstration of how green practices can improve both care and efficiency.
In your view, who should be responsible for driving sustainability inside a hospital?
Sustainability should be driven by everyone—but led decisively by leadership. Hospital CEOs and top executives must embed sustainability into strategic planning, budgetary frameworks, and key performance indicators. Operations teams need to manage implementation across infrastructure, utilities, and procurement. Clinicians and department heads should play an advisory and advocacy role, helping align patient care with green principles. Even housekeeping, security, and food services can adopt environmentally sound practices in daily routines. However, for this ecosystem to work, there must be a central sustainability office or coordinator ensuring collaboration, tracking metrics, and continuously innovating. Sustainability is not a project; it’s a practice—and it thrives when responsibility is both distributed and championed from the top.
Do you think doctors should be more involved in conversations about hospital infrastructure and sustainability planning?
Undoubtedly, yes. Doctors are not only primary users of clinical infrastructure but also trusted voices in the healthcare system. Their participation in infrastructure and sustainability planning brings a critical perspective: one that aligns patient outcomes with environmental and operational efficiency. For example, decisions around surgical lighting, ventilation in ICUs, or material use in operating rooms must balance clinical needs with sustainability goals—and doctors are best placed to help find that balance. Moreover, when clinicians advocate for green infrastructure, it legitimizes the effort and encourages wider buy-in from staff. Doctors should be seen not only as caregivers but as institutional stewards who can shape the future of sustainable healthcare delivery.
Are patients in India beginning to ask questions about green hospitals, or is that still rare?
Patient curiosity about environmentally responsible hospitals is growing, especially among urban, educated, and younger demographics. While it’s not yet widespread, we’re increasingly seeing patients and their families ask about indoor air quality, water safety, waste disposal, and hospital hygiene—all of which are closely tied to sustainability. International patients, in particular, often express appreciation for our green building certification and environmental initiatives. As awareness grows about the links between environment and health—especially respiratory and autoimmune conditions—we expect this demand to intensify. Hospitals that invest in green infrastructure today are likely to gain reputational and competitive advantages in the years ahead.
Many hospital CEOs believe sustainability comes at a high cost. From your experience, is that always true?
This belief is understandable but increasingly outdated. While some green initiatives require upfront investment, the long-term operational savings often far outweigh initial costs. For example, energy-efficient HVAC systems and LED lighting drastically reduce utility bills. Rainwater harvesting cuts municipal water dependence. Waste segregation reduces disposal costs. At Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, our investments in sustainability have resulted in measurable cost efficiencies and stronger system resilience. In fact, many low-cost changes like behaviour-based energy conservation or optimized waste protocols require minimal capital. CEOs must shift their view of sustainability from an expense to a strategic asset that improves resilience, compliance, patient satisfaction, and public trust.
If you could suggest one high-impact, low-investment sustainability measure to other hospitals, what would it be?
One of the most effective and affordable starting points is implementing waste segregation at source. It’s a foundational sustainability practice that dramatically improves the efficiency of waste handling, reduces the burden on incinerators and landfills, and opens the door to composting and recycling. Color-coded bins, staff training, and clear signage can go a long way. It improves hygiene, ensures regulatory compliance, and raises awareness among staff. At Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, this simple step has been a gateway to deeper waste reform—proving that sustainable change often starts with everyday actions done consistently well.
What kind of support do doctors like you need to become stronger advocates for environmental sustainability in healthcare?
To become stronger advocates, doctors need institutional backing, time, and tools. This includes access to sustainability metrics, participation in green committees, and continuing medical education (CME) on climate-health links. Incentivizing sustainability innovation within clinical departments can also spark engagement. Most importantly, doctors need to see how environmental health intersects with clinical outcomes—whether it’s indoor air quality affecting respiratory patients or pharmaceutical waste impacting ecosystems. Peer networks, professional forums, and case-sharing platforms can further equip doctors to lead. With the right support, doctors can be powerful agents of sustainable transformation, influencing not just care protocols but the entire healthcare delivery model.
Looking ahead, what do you hope private hospitals in India will do differently when it comes to climate action over the next decade?
Over the next decade, I hope to see private hospitals in India embrace sustainability not as a compliance checkbox but as a strategic pillar of their mission. This means designing every new facility as a green building, transitioning to renewable energy, minimizing waste, and integrating climate resilience into emergency preparedness. Hospitals must also invest in climate-health research, create eco-conscious clinical pathways, and actively engage communities in public health education. Importantly, sustainability should become a leadership KPI—factored into quality accreditation, board reviews, and annual goals. If India’s private healthcare sector takes bold steps now, it can lead the global movement for climate-conscious care and inspire systemic change across the subcontinent and beyond.
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