INCORPORATING CLIMATE IMPACT IN HEALTH CARE DECISIONS: NEW CRITERIA TO BE TESTED IN THE NETHERLANDS

One of the ways in which health care's climate impact can be reduced is by taking greenhouse gas emissions into account when deciding which treatments are reimbursed and/or included in clinical guidelines.In a report for the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports in the Netherlands, we explored how this idea could be put into practice.We developed a set of two criteria: greenhouse gas emissions per patient (which can be compared to, e.g., QALYs gained), and total amount of greenhouse gas emissions for all patients undergoing the intervention (which can be compared to, e.g., health care's remaining carbon budget).In the coming three years, the National Health Care Institute will use these criteria in an experimental setting, to gain practical experience and to assess whether there is sufficient support among policymakers, practitioners and patients for taking into account climate impact on a regular basis.