The UK healthcare sector is on the brink of a revolution. The Department of Health & Social Care has published the “Design for Life Roadmap,” a strategic plan to make medical technology more sustainable. The goal is ambitious: By 2045, the UK intends...
Reducing emissions The healthcare sector is a true “CO2 emitter”. A single hospital bed, for example, consumes as much energy annually as four-family homes. Despite its massive environmental impact, the medical industry is not yet a primary target of climate-focused...
Reprocessing of Medical Devices: What the MDR Stipulates While Article 17 of the MDR provides unified, detailed European requirements for reprocessing single-use devices—replacing previous national regulations— EU-wide harmonization is not fully achieved. Each member...
A Success Story: The UK Leads the Way Stepping Hill Hospital, part of the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, has demonstrated the effectiveness of remanufacturing through its Green Plan and the introduction of a single-use device remanufacturing program. In 2023/24...
In July, the Federal Council voted by majority to prohibit the use of reprocessed single-use medical devices if they are “CE-certified.” This means that the use of these products would be banned if it is proven that reprocessed products meet all essential safety and...
Safety with Sustainability The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has been actively working for years on its ambitious NetZero plan, aiming to reduce emissions and waste while maintaining high standards of care. As part of this initiative, New Cross Hospital in...
