The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute (KDAH), Mumbai, has set a new regional standard by being awarded the Certificate of Distinction for its Healthcare Sustainability Program.
The recognition, conferred by the Joint Commission International (JCI) in partnership with the International Hospital Federation’s Geneva Sustainability Centre, positions KDAH as the first Indian hospital and only the fifth worldwide to meet the global ESG benchmark.
The certification acknowledges KDAH’s proactive integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices into its operational and clinical frameworks. It recognizes the hospital’s strategy for operational resilience and alignment with global climate-risk governance.
Pioneering clinical sustainability:
The achievement is the result of measurable, verifiable reductions in the hospital’s environmental impact across several critical areas. A key transformation occurred in clinical operations, where KDAH phased out high-emission anesthetic gases, replacing them with low-emission alternatives to significantly reduce clinical carbon output.
Furthering its commitment, the hospital transitioned from traditional metered-dose inhalers—which rely on high-global-warming propellants—to low-carbon inhalers. In its laboratories, the hospital introduced serum tube consolidation to streamline testing, cutting plastic consumption, chemical waste, and the overall carbon footprint of lab diagnostics. Other initiatives include the adoption of energy-efficient turbine-based ventilators and LED surgical lights.
Financial value and resilience:
The JCI–GSC distinction focuses on hospitals that embed environmental risk governance at the board level, integrating sustainability into enterprise risk management. This reflects a strategic decision by the hospital to link environmental stewardship with financial and operational security.
Dr. Santosh Shetty, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, KDAH, highlighted the significance of the award.
“The certification reflects our core belief that sustainability unlocks both better clinical outcomes and stronger operating performance. Our 2030 Sustainability Roadmap focuses on energy efficiency, water stewardship, low-emission materials, and climate-resilient infrastructure. These investments are designed to reduce long-term cost pressures, improve patient safety, and strengthen business continuity in a city facing increasing climate volatility.”
KDAH’s alignment with global ESG frameworks, such as the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), demonstrates a commitment to robust internal controls, establishing the Mumbai facility as a sector pioneer in responsible and future-ready healthcare.
