Sustainable Healthcare: Kenyan Hospital Tackles the Environmental Impact of Dialysis

Can life-saving care be delivered without compromising the planet?

This is the story of how an innovative Kenyan hospital is seeking to reduce the environmental impact of dialysis, a treatment that filters waste and excess fluid from a patient’s blood when their kidneys fail. 

Standard hemodialysis, one specific type of dialysis that uses a machine outside the body to filter the blood, is among the most resource-intensive routine medical procedures. A single four-hour session typically consumes up to 500 litres of water, uses significant electricity, and generates approximately 2–5 kg of solid waste, much of it single-use plastic. The associated carbon footprint per session has been estimated at roughly 70–100 kg CO₂e, which is comparable to driving about 140 kilometres in a conventional petrol- or gas-powered vehicle. 

In Kenya, where more than 7,300 patients typically require dialysis 2-3 times per week, this translates into an estimated:

• 7.6–11.4 million litres of water consumed weekly
• 1,000–2,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually
• 750–1,500 tonnes of medical and plastic waste per year

This raises an urgent question: Can life-saving renal care be delivered without compromising the planet?

One institution working to answer this is MP Shah Hospital, a private 217-bed medical facility in Nairobi and a participant of the UN Global Compact. On March 11, 2026, the hospital launched a green dialysis unit under its Green365 strategy — an initiative designed to transform a traditionally resource-intensive procedure into a model for sustainable healthcare. To build its internal capacity, the hospital has engaged in several UN Global Compact initiatives, participating in Peer Learning Groups, ThinkLabs, and accelerators, including the Business and Human Rights Accelerator (BHA).

At the heart of this approach is a shift from a linear system of consumption to a circular model that prioritizes efficiency, recovery, and reuse. 

Dialysis operations have been reimagined so that critical inputs—water, energy, and materials—are carefully managed and optimized. Sensor-activated lighting reduces unnecessary energy use, while wastewater from the reverse osmosis system is redirected for sanitation purposes instead of being discharged. In addition, partnerships with local recyclers ensure that single-use plastic waste is properly processed rather than sent to landfill.

These efforts align closely with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and contribute directly to several Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by improving access to quality dialysis care, SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through water reuse, SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) via energy-efficient systems, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by reducing waste, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by lowering the carbon footprint of care delivery.

Implementing the initiative was not without challenges. Retrofitting the dialysis unit required innovative engineering solutions, particularly in redesigning plumbing systems for water recovery and integrating smart lighting infrastructure. Equally important was the human dimension: staff needed to shift from a long-standing “use-and-dispose” mindset to one centered on conservation and sustainability. Initial skepticism had to be addressed through training, engagement, and demonstrated results.

Green Dialysis Unit Room at the MP Shah Hospital.

Within just six months of launch, the unit is already projected to achieve meaningful reductions in both water consumption and energy use. The benefits extend across multiple stakeholders. Patients receive high-quality care with reduced environmental impact, supporting their overall well-being. The surrounding community benefits from lower emissions and more responsible water use. For the hospital, the initiative delivers operational cost savings alongside enhanced institutional reputation. At a broader level, the environment benefits from reduced plastic pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plant Machines at the MP Shah Hospital.

Hospital leadership credits its participation in the UN Global Compact with helping position sustainability not as an optional add-on, but as a core business strategy embedded within Green365. This alignment has also elevated the hospital’s global profile, contributing to its recognition as one of only a few institutions worldwide to receive the Healthcare Sustainability Certification from Joint Commission International and the Geneva Sustainability Centre in 2025.

Dr. Toseef Din, CEO, MP Shah Hospital

"Through Green365, we have proven that sustainability is not an abstract ideal; it can be operationalised, measured, and lived every single day. The Green Dialysis Unit represents a critical step in our commitment to build healthcare systems that heal people and protect the planet, proving that climate action and quality care go hand in hand. For Kenya and beyond, this is our opportunity, as the generation that can still act, to lead by example and redefine what responsible healthcare looks like," said Dr. Toseef Din, CEO, MP Shah Hospital.

Dr. Joan Osor, Chief Sustainability and Operations Officer

Looking ahead, MP Shah Hospital hopes its model will inspire other healthcare providers across East Africa to take action. As Dr. Joan Osor, Chief Sustainability and Operations Officer, notes meaningful change does not require perfect conditions: “Small changes, when adopted collectively, become transformative. Sustainability in healthcare is not a cost—it is a strategy for clinical and operational resilience that ultimately saves both money and lives.”

Ultimately, the effort required to implement these changes is modest compared to the impact achieved. This initiative challenges the long-held assumption that healthcare must be inherently resource-intensive. It demonstrates that even high-acuity services like dialysis can evolve toward environmentally responsible, and potentially net-positive, models of care.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plant and Green Dialysis Machines at the MP Shah Hospital.