Background and Importance Green public procurement is a process of contracting products, services, and works with the least possible damage to the environment during their life cycle. In order to improve knowledge on the application of environmental criteria in healthcare procurement, it is necessary to assess the current implementation situation.

Aim and Objectives To review the incorporation of environmental criteria in public procurement procedures for drugs, medical devices and non-medical equipment (paper, clothing, garbage bags, etc.) in a group procurement organisation.

Material and Methods A retrospective study was performed in which all the tenders carried out by the group procurement organisation from 2017 to the first quarter of 2022 were reviewed. All tenders that had included environmental criteria in the evaluation criteria were identified. In order to evaluate the impact of these criteria in the suppliers’ bids, it was considered as positive if compliance with the environmental criteria was given in at least one of the products offered. Classification of the suppliers (drugs, medical devices, and non-medical equipment) was made on the basis of subject matter of the procurement.

Results A total of 117 tender files were reviewed, where 15 (12.8%) included environmental criteria in the technical specifications: 4 (26.6%) for drugs, 6 (40%) for medical devices and 5 (33.3%) for non-medical equipment. A total of 130 suppliers presented tender bids in the 15 tenders identified: 80 (61.5%) met one or more of the environmental criteria included in the specifications. Regarding the subject matter of the contract, 19 companies submitted bids to drug tender files, 55 to medical devices and 6 to non-medical equipment. During the period 2018-2021, the highest number of tenders with environmental criteria were those of medical devices. Overall, a growing trend with the incorporation of environmental criteria is observed over the years.

Conclusion and Relevance The introduction of environmental criteria in healthcare procurement is still low but with an increasing trend towards a higher percentage of the tendered contracts. The current sustainable procurement policies in Europe encourage for a wider introduction of social and environmental criteria in the procurement of drugs, medical devices and non-medical equipment.

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest