IT has been observed that government hospitals in Lahore, like Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Jinnah Hospital and others, have installed more than the required number of air-conditioners (ACs) across their premises.

In an area of just 20 metres on the ground floor of one such hospital, there are about 15 ACs. This is way more than what is required. Moreover, ACs are installed in doctors’ rooms, while the waiting area for patients barely has fans and shades.

Hospitals already consume significant energy to power essential medical equip-

ment, lighting, and allied systems. Excessive use of ACs surely leads to skyrocketing utility bills, diverting funds from other critical areas, such as patient care or equipment upgrades.

Excessive use of ACs increases carbon emissions, contributing to the alarming climate change phenomenon. Hospitals, which often have large-scale operations, can amplify their environmental footprint through unnecessary energy consumption.

Excessive air-conditioning can make certain areas of the hospital too cold, causing discomfort to both patients and staff. For patients recovering from surgery or those in fragile health, this can actually impact the healing process and overall wellbeing of such patients.

Besides, continuous exposure to overly air-conditioned environments can cause dehydration and dry skin, which is parti-

cularly problematic for patients already vulnerable due to their medical conditions.

While ACs are necessary to ensure the required temperature for certain medical equipment and devices, their overuse might create unnecessary strain on power systems, leading to outages or equipment malfunctions.

There should be a balance between energy use and patient care, focussing on sustainability in healthcare settings.

Syed Ali Naqi
Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2024