![\"Cutting-edge](\"https:\/\/d1v1e13ebw3o15.cloudfront.net\/data\/91252\/pool_and_spa_master\/..jpg\" "\\"Cutting-edge")
<\/p>\nAs sustainability shifts from the sidelines to the heart of health care, the Australian Digital Health Agency\u2019s\u00a0Chief Digital Officer sets out some sustainable advantages of\u00a0digital health tools \u2014 with a supporting case study.<\/em><\/p>\n In the early days of modern medicine, reusable tools such as glass syringes, metal forceps and sterilised surgical kits were the backbone of hospital care. But as medical technology advanced, so did the complexity of instruments, and the challenge of cleaning them grew. By the 1960s, \u2018fantastic plastic\u2019 was king \u2014\u00a0fuelling a throwaway culture from groceries to gadgets. And while in health care and hospitals, plastics brought huge clinical safety benefits, swapping reusable tools for sterile, single-use equipment, the environmental cost barely registered.<\/p>\n Today, a new challenge is being faced: balancing safety with sustainability. Medical waste, much of it single-use plastics, has become a significant environmental burden. But rather than returning to the past, health care is turning to digital technologies to chart a smarter, cleaner future.<\/p>\n Health care saves lives but it also leaves a mark on the planet. Globally, the sector is responsible for around 4.4% of greenhouse gas emissions<\/a>1<\/sup>, and in Australia, that figure climbs to 7%, with hospitals and pharmaceuticals major contributors. We need to rethink how care is delivered. That\u2019s where digital health steps in as a transformative force in reducing health care\u2019s environmental impact.<\/p>\n Tools like My Health Record are central to the ongoing digital health transformation.<\/a> This secure national system consolidates Australians\u2019 key health information online and in their hands through the my health app. The system also serves as a clinical resource, enabling decision-making and effective communication with multidisciplinary healthcare teams, often reducing unnecessary duplication. As at September 20252<\/sup>, more than 1.9 billion documents<\/a> have been uploaded to My Health Record by consumers or healthcare professionals.\u00a0<\/p>\n The impact of My Health Record on clinical efficiency and environmental sustainability is being further powered by the federal government\u2019s Sharing by Default legislation, passed by Parliament earlier this year. When healthcare providers have access to imaging or pathology results that have been requested by another provider, they can avoid ordering repeat tests. This will reduce the need for single-use diagnostic kits, specimen containers, contrast agents and associated packaging.<\/p>\n For Australians, it means faster access to test results, fewer unnecessary appointments, and improved continuity of care, while helping them avoid the impost of additional travel for unnecessary repeat testing.<\/p>\n Digital scripts are an effective alternative to paper scripts, reducing errors, clutter, and the need for plastic sleeves or couriered documents. It also reduces the risk of losing them which may require a repeat visit to the doctor. People across Australia are embracing the technology, and as at August 2025, more than 399\u00a0million electronic prescriptions have been issued by doctors and nurse practitioners since the program launched in May 2020, with uptake continuing to grow.<\/p>\n In hospital outpatient departments, especially high-volume areas like oncology where patients may require complex, multi-drug regimens, digital prescribing ensures that medication orders are accurate, timely and traceable, while also reducing paperwork. In addition, electronic prescriptions can reduce the need for physical storage and shredding, further lowering the hospital\u2019s carbon footprint.<\/p>\n In addition to the benefits derived from electronic prescribing, real-time access to dispense information in medication histories via My Health Record enables healthcare providers to check for allergies, interactions and duplicate therapies before prescribing \u2014 reducing adverse drug events and improving outcomes.<\/p>\nDigital health tools reduce waste and duplication<\/h4>\n
A prescription for less paper and plastic\u00a0<\/h4>\n