Mumbai: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first hospital in India — and the fifth globally — to receive the prestigious Certificate of Distinction for its Healthcare Sustainability Program from the Joint Commission International (JCI) in collaboration with the International Hospital Federation’s Geneva Sustainability Centre.
A Global Recognition for Climate-Resilient Healthcare
Healthcare is among the world’s top five carbon-emitting industries, making sustainability a critical component of long-term operational resilience. Kokilaben Hospital’s certification comes at a time when global health systems are under pressure to reduce emissions and strengthen preparedness against climate-linked disruptions.
This recognition positions Kokilaben Hospital as a leader in adopting international sustainability frameworks, including the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) norms.
Leadership Speaks: Sustainability as a Strategic Investment
Dr. Santosh Shetty, CEO and Executive Director of Kokilaben Hospital, emphasized the strategic and financial value of sustainability initiatives.
“This certification reflects our core belief that sustainability unlocks both better clinical outcomes and stronger operating performance. Our 2030 Sustainability Roadmap focuses on energy efficiency, water stewardship, low-emission materials, and climate-resilient infrastructure,” he said.
According to Dr. Shetty, these initiatives will help reduce long-term cost pressures, improve patient safety, and ensure business continuity—especially crucial for a city like Mumbai, which faces increasing climate volatility.
What the JCI–GSC Certification Recognizes
The JCI–GSC programme honors hospitals that demonstrate:
- Strong environmental risk governance at the board level
- Integration of emissions, waste, water efficiency, and circularity into operations
- Climate-resilient infrastructure and supply-chain management
- Enterprise-wide sustainability embedded into risk management
This framework aligns global best practices with healthcare performance, reinforcing internal controls and long-term resilience.
India’s Growing Climate Imperative
India’s rapidly expanding healthcare sector faces heightened climate risks, including infrastructure stress, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events. Programmes like the NPCCHH (National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health) are pushing hospitals to adopt stronger emissions reporting, disaster preparedness, and waste-management frameworks.
Climate-related disruptions are projected to cost South Asia up to USD 36 billion annually by 2050, making sustainability adoption an urgent necessity.
A Sector Pioneer in Environmental Governance
While many Indian hospitals are still in the early stages of embedding sustainability at leadership levels, Kokilaben Hospital’s alignment with global ESG frameworks marks a notable leap forward. Its JCI certification reflects a governance maturity that surpasses current national norms.
By integrating emissions control, water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable supply-chain practices into its operations, Kokilaben Hospital demonstrates that world-class, climate-resilient healthcare is achievable even in resource-intensive environments.
