Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) is taking a bold step in climate-conscious healthcare by addressing the hidden environmental cost of asthma inhalers. While these devices are life-saving for millions, most conventional inhalers release hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — greenhouse gases up to 2,500 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Medical experts at SSMC revealed that a single pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) can have the same carbon footprint as driving a car for 300 kilometers. With asthma and COPD patients relying on these devices daily, the environmental impact has raised serious sustainability concerns. To combat this, SSMC is now educating both patients and clinicians about greener alternatives, such as dry powder inhalers.
The hospital’s initiative is part of a wider movement across the UAE to align healthcare practices with climate goals, particularly ahead of global sustainability targets. SSMC has also begun piloting a program to track and reduce inhaler emissions across its respiratory wards, aiming to make low-carbon inhalers the new standard.
With healthcare responsible for 4–5% of global emissions, SSMC’s pioneering efforts signal a new era of eco-conscious patient care. Their mission: not just to help patients breathe easier, but to ensure a healthier planet for future generations.
