According to Dr Sumitra Nair of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the most valuable legacy we can establish for future generations is a sustainable and secure planet, a thriving community, and fair chances (Smart Investor, n.d.). This statement reflects the importance of integrating ESG practices into the Family Clinic, composed of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical governance. Given the social and ecological issues we face today, healthcare providers, including Family Clinics, must be responsible for deploying these principles to create more sustainable and ethical healthcare management. This article focuses on implementing ESG in Family Clinics in general practice.

Environmental Sustainability

To fulfil Malaysia’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, healthcare providers must conserve the environment through resource efficiency, waste management, and sustainable sourcing. Energy-efficient systems can be put into practice, and renewable energy can be used in family clinics. Proper waste management is also essential.

Vallée (2024) shows that building a green hospital can be achieved by installing wind turbines and solar panels. Waste can be managed by sorting and recycling non-hazardous materials to reduce disposal costs. Moreover, healthcare providers need to select eco-friendly suppliers and sustainable medical supplies (World Health Organization (WHO), 2022). By implementing these strategies, family clinics can contribute to national and global environmental measures, benefiting the healthcare sector and the planet.

Social Responsibility

Family clinics should show social responsibility by contributing to stakeholders, attracting investors and increasing the organisation’s reputation. Ensuring high-quality and accessible yet affordable healthcare can be implemented to achieve this aspect of ESG.

Mehra and Sharma (2021) highlight the importance of a sustainable healthcare system where the essential social indicators include health outcomes, consumer preferences, and fees, with a focus on shifting from “sick care” to preventive “health care.” Improving patient satisfaction and overall healthcare efficacy is emphasised by delivering quality care, optimising expenses, and supporting employee satisfaction. Haleem et al. (2021) note that family clinics can address healthcare disparities, particularly those using telemedicine in rural and underserved areas. Through these efforts, family clinics fulfil their social obligation, significantly improving community well-being and playing a critical role in advancing sustainable healthcare practices. For more information on how telemedicine enhances healthcare delivery, visit our Telemedicine Services.

Ethical Governance

Governance refers to the principles of responsibility, transparency, and morality that direct clinic operations. Strong governance fosters trust with regulators, staff, and patients and ensures long-term success. Madani et al. (2021) identified critical ethical concerns in family medicine, including accountability, patient privacy, informed consent, communication, patient trust, and conflicts of interest. Establishing an ethics committee is required to identify and address ethical issues, examine stakeholder perspectives, and recommend actions to the board of directors. Furthermore, performance metrics and strategic human resource management can enhance patient outcomes by promoting continuous improvement and maintaining optimal staffing (Bhati et al., 2023). Through ethical governance, compliance, reliability, and patient relations, family clinics guarantee patient compliance and healthcare sustainability.

Summary

Applying ESG in family clinics is necessary to develop a sustainable and ethical healthcare system. Environmentally, clinics can contribute to achieving Malaysia’s net-zero targets. Socially, they provide affordable healthcare services that benefit the community. Ethical governance builds trust between the organisation, patients, employees, and regulators. Ultimately, implementing these principles will create a healthcare system that addresses today’s challenges, ensuring that the future healthcare system is sustainable and beneficial for coming generations.

Reference

1. Bhati, D., Deogade, M. S., & Kanyal, D. (2023). Improving Patient Outcomes Through Effective Hospital Administration: A Comprehensive Review. Cureus, 15(10), e47731. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47731
2. Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Singh, R. P., & Suman, R. (2021). Telemedicine for healthcare: Capabilities, features, barriers, and applications. Sensors International, 2, 100117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sintl.2021.100117
3. Madani, S. J., Larijani, B., Nedjat, S., & Bagheri, A. (2021). Family medicine ethical issues regarding physician-patient interactions from patients’ perspectives: A qualitative study. Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine, 12(2), 184–193. https://doi.org/10.22088/cjim.12.2.184
4. Mehra, R., & Sharma, M. K. (2021). Measures of Sustainability in Healthcare. Sustainability Analytics and Modeling, 1, 100001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.samod.2021.100001
5. Smart Investor. (n.d.). 4 Things That You Should Know About ESG In Malaysia. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). https://mdec.my/esg-mdcap/content-hub/four-things-that-you-should-know-about-esg-in-malaysia
6. Vallée, A. (2024). Green hospitals face to climate change: Between sobriety and resilience. Heliyon, 10(2), e24769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24769
7. World Health Organization (WHO). (2022, April). Sustainable Procurement. World Health Organization (WHO). https://apps.who.int/gb/MSPI/pdf_files/2022/04/Item5_11-04.pdf