When we talk about strong health systems, we often think of frontline care, doctors, clinics and essential medicines. But behind every treatment lies a less visible reality: the waste those systems generate every day. Poorly managed healthcare waste, especially infectious materials, poses serious risks for health workers, patients and surrounding communities. It is a challenge we can no longer afford to ignore.

Across Asia and the Pacific, healthcare waste is rapidly rising. As more people access care, hazardous waste is increasing, yet safe disposal remains out of reach in many places. Incineration is still common practice, even where safer, cleaner alternatives exist. In some areas, waste is openly burned or improperly stored, compounding environmental and health risks. The healthcare sector now accounts for an estimated 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making sustainable waste management not only a health imperative but a climate one. Meanwhile, climate-related disasters and health emergencies are placing even greater pressure on already strained systems.

Those most exposed, including waste handlers, nurses and cleaners, are often women and from marginalized groups, with little protection or recognition. Tackling healthcare waste is not only about upgrading infrastructure. It is about protecting people, advancing equity and strengthening health systems to withstand a changing climate.

The good news is that change is already happening. Across the region, countries are adopting greener technologies, improving oversight through real-time tracking and advancing smarter procurement practices. Embedding sustainability into procurement and supply chains helps cut emissions, lower costs and drive innovation. Connecting procurement, waste management and care delivery is not only smart, it is essential for building health systems that can meet today’s challenges and prepare for those ahead.

Since September 2022, UNDP, supported by the Government of Japan, has partnered with Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives through a project to accelerate the shift toward sustainable healthcare waste management. The project has introduced cleaner technologies, catalyzed policy reform, and piloted scalable solutions across the region. In Bangladesh, 14 autoclaves and 3 microwaves were installed, and 7 disposal vehicles along with 45 trolleys were delivered to 26 hospitals for safe waste transport and disposal. The Maldives constructed 18 waste management facilities, supported 3 more in partnership with WHO, deployed 65 electric tricycles and installed 2 autoclaves. Bhutan equipped 112 health centres and trained leaders from all 205 gewogs (village blocks). In total, nearly 1,000 healthcare workers across the three countries received hands-on training. Digital tools for real-time monitoring and waste tracking have also been introduced, and circular economy principles—reduce, reuse, recycle—are increasingly being integrated into national health planning.

To take stock of this progress and shape what comes next, UNDP convened the Regional Dialogue on Scaling Up Sustainable Healthcare Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific on 23 June 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event brought together government officials, civil society representatives, technical experts, UNDP country teams and development partners to exchange experiences and define share priorities.

A clear message emerged: countries are ready to go further and faster, but they need the right support. Five priorities emerged:

1. Digital tracking systems to strengthen accountability and inform decision-making.
2. Stronger enforcement and regulation to ensure policies are implemented effectively.
3. Circular economy models to reduce, reuse and recycle healthcare materials.
4. Sustainable procurement that considers the full product lifecycle.
5. Regional collaboration platforms to foster peer learning and South-South cooperation.

What is needed now is sustained investment, cross-sector coordination and continued regional exchange to embed healthcare waste management into national health systems and climate policies. This is no longer a side issue, it is a strategic lever for resilient, equitable and climate-smart health systems.

With generous support from Japan, UNDP has laid strong groundwork for change. Looking ahead, UNDP stands ready to be a partner of choice for countries and stakeholders working to transform healthcare waste systems. Building on its expertise in sustainable procurement, environmental health and inclusive governance, UNDP can help scale up climate-resilient, digitally enabled and rights-based solutions that support circular economy principles. As the region faces intersecting health and climate risks, investment in sustainable healthcare waste systems is not just timely — it is essential to help deliver cleaner, safer and more resilient healthcare systems for all.