1PhD Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Management, Jaipur, India Pin 303807. Email: vikasbugalia@yahoo.co.in
2Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Management, Jaipur, India Pin 303807
3Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Management, Jaipur, India Pin 303807
4Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rao Birendra Singh State Institute of Engineering and Technology, Zainabad, India, 123411
*Corresponding Author: Vikas Kumar, PhD Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Management, Jaipur, India, 303807. Email: vikasbugalia@yahoo.co.in
Healthcare systems are essential for improving population health and supporting economic development; however, healthcare operations are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to environmental degradation through energy consumption, pharmaceutical use, and medical waste generation [1][2]. Recent global assessments indicate that the healthcare sector contributes approximately 4–5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating that medical systems have a measurable environmental footprint comparable to that of major industrial sectors [3]. Among the various contributors to healthcare environmental impacts, pharmaceutical products represent a critical component because their life cycle includes energy-intensive manufacturing processes, complex chemical synthesis, global transportation networks, and disposal of unused drugs [4][5].
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is widely recognized as a comprehensive methodological framework used to quantify environmental impacts associated with products and services across their entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to final disposal [6]. LCA has been increasingly applied in healthcare sustainability research to evaluate environmental impacts associated with hospital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices [7][8]. Pharmaceutical products are particularly important in LCA studies because their production involves multiple stages of chemical processing, solvent usage, and energy-intensive manufacturing that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and ecotoxicological risks [9].
This study evaluates the environmental impacts of drugs and pharmaceutical products within the life cycle of a medical healthcare unit in India using the Life Cycle Assessment framework. Environmental impact categories including climate change potential, fossil resource depletion, freshwater ecotoxicity, and human toxicity were analysed using inventory data collected from healthcare operations. In addition to pharmaceutical consumption, the study also evaluates the environmental impacts associated with laboratory and diagnostic instruments used in pharmaceutical testing and clinical analysis. The results indicate that pharmaceutical production and diagnostic equipment contribute significantly to climate change potential and resource depletion within healthcare systems. These findings highlight the importance of integrating environmental sustainability into pharmaceutical management practices and hospital procurement strategies. The study contributes to sustainable healthcare research by providing empirical insights into the environmental footprint of pharmaceutical products in Indian healthcare systems.
Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Pharmaceutical Environmental Impact; Healthcare Sustainability; Pharmaceutical Waste Management; Environmental Footprint; Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How to cite this article: Kumar V, Gurnani U, Khan V, Gaurav G. Impact of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Products on Life Cycle Assessment of Medical Healthcare Unit in India. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(12s): 234-241. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.12s.24.
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None