Sustainable Value-Based Healthcare EKosystem

At EKology, we are reimagining value in healthcare through the lens of Sustainable Value-Based Healthcare (Sustainable VBH), an approach that delivers better patient outcomes while safeguarding environmental, social and financial resources of health services.

Sustainable VBH integrates the goals of clinical excellence, health equity and environmental responsibility. As the healthcare sector faces rising demand, resource constraints and climate-related health risks, this model offers a powerful path forward: one that meets today’s needs without compromising the wellbeing of future generations.

Redefining Value: From Cost Efficiency to Sustainable Impact

Historically, value-based healthcare has focused on health outcomes relative to cost. But as Mortimer et al. (2018) and global thought leaders have argued, true value must account for the triple bottom line: health outcomes, environmental impact and social equity.

Sustainable VBH reframes healthcare value through:

1. Prevention and early intervention to reduce avoidable care 
2. Patient empowerment and self-management for long-term wellbeing 
3. Low-carbon care alternatives such as telehealth and sustainable prescribing 
4. Lean systems that reduce waste and enhance access
5. Shared decision-making that respects patient preferences and planetary boundaries
    

Incorporating these principles not only improves clinical care, but also reduces the system’s contribution to climate change and health inequities.

Why Sustainable VBH Matters Now

Healthcare contributes nearly 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions—more than the aviation industry. Without systemic reform, healthcare risks undermining the very health it seeks to protect.

Sustainable VBH is now essential to:

1. Achieve net zero healthcare goals 
2. Address social and geographic health inequities 
3. Future-proof health systems against environmental and financial shocks 
4. Respond to growing public and regulatory expectations for sustainable care
    

Evidence-based frameworks such as the SusQI (Sustainability in Quality Improvement) model and WHO’s operational guidance for climate-resilient health systems offer clear pathways to embed sustainability into healthcare delivery and governance.

EKology’s Expertise in Driving Sustainable VBH

EKology is a trusted partner to health services, with expertise in embedding Sustainable Value-Based Healthcare at all levels from clinical redesign to board governance. With expertise across public health, digital innovation and sustainability leadership, we help healthcare organisations act on their climate and care responsibilities strategically, measurably, and inclusively.

We support healthcare organisations to:

1. Integrate SusQI into quality and safety programs 
2. Design low-carbon clinical pathways and carbon hotspot mitigation strategies 
3. Build executive and clinical leadership capability in Sustainable VBH
4. Align procurement, infrastructure, and workforce planning with net zero goals 
5. Engage patients and communities in co-creating care models that deliver shared health and sustainability outcomes
    

Partner with EKology for a Sustainable Future

Sustainable VBH is not just a concept, it’s a clinical, ethical and operational imperative.

Whether you're starting with carbon reduction in theatres, redesigning primary care models for resilience or shaping sustainability-focused governance frameworks, EKology brings clarity, capability, and collaboration to every step of your sustainability transformation.e broader health ecosystem to tackle complex issues across health care delivery. We promote the need for digital transformation and adoption of AI, clear strategic alignment and agile innovative thinking to drive change in health.