The article discusses the urgent ecological crisis humanity faces, characterized by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss—the “triple planetary crisis.” It highlights the severe health impacts, including 250,000 deaths annually due to climate change and 9 million premature deaths caused by pollution, surpassing deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. The healthcare sector is significantly impacted by, and contributes to, this ecological degradation, creating a complex relationship where it is both a burden and a pollutant.
Despite some initiatives to combat these issues, there is a notable lack of awareness among healthcare professionals regarding their role in the crisis. The article makes a case for healthcare workers to actively engage in mitigating these challenges by embracing concepts like planetary health, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human health and ecosystems. Furthermore, it discusses eco-anxiety and emphasizes the need for educational reforms integrating planetary health into healthcare curricula.
The paper concludes by asserting that without a shift in responsibility and awareness within the healthcare sector, the ongoing ecological crises will remain inadequately addressed, compounding health risks and hampering effective responses to environmental issues. It advocates for transformative education to prepare future healthcare professionals to tackle these challenges effectively.
