Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute has become the first hospital in India and only the fifth worldwide to receive the Certificate of Distinction for Healthcare Sustainability from Joint Commission International (JCI) in collaboration with the International Hospital Federation’s Geneva Sustainability Centre. The award underscores the hospital’s global leadership in operational resilience, climate risk governance and sustainable healthcare transformation.
Healthcare ranks among the top five industries contributing to carbon emissions, making sustainable operations a global priority. The certification comes at a time when hospitals worldwide are being urged to strengthen resilience against climate-driven disruptions and align with emerging global frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).
Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Santosh Shetty, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Kokilaben Hospital, said:
“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.”
The JCI–Geneva Sustainability Centre programme recognizes hospitals that embed environmental risk governance at the board level and integrate emissions, waste, water efficiency and supply-chain sustainability into enterprise risk management—demonstrating strong internal controls and a proactive approach to climate-linked operational risks.
India faces high climate vulnerability due to rapid urban development and mounting infrastructure pressures. National programmes like the NPCCHH are pushing hospitals to adopt circularity, disaster preparedness and emissions reporting. With climate events expected to cost South Asia up to USD 36 billion annually by 2050, healthcare systems must adopt resilience-focused strategies.
While many Indian hospitals are still in early stages of environmental governance, Kokilaben Hospital’s JCI Sustainability Certification signals a leap ahead. By integrating emissions, waste, water and supply-chain sustainability into core risk management, the hospital has set a new benchmark for ESG maturity in Indian healthcare, proving that responsible, future-ready healthcare is achievable even in resource-constrained environments.
