Samsung Medical Center has received the highest rating of '5 Leaves' in the 'World's Greenest Hospitals 2026' evaluation conducted by Newsweek. Out of over 6,000 hospitals worldwide assessed in this evaluation, only 36 hospitals achieved the top rating.
On August 7, Samsung Medical Center announced that it ranked in the top 0.6% of all hospitals evaluated, according to the results released on August 6 (local time). This year marks the first time Newsweek has conducted a global evaluation of eco-friendly hospitals, considering sustainability based on environmental performance data and expert recommendations.
Among the hospitals evaluated, 250 received three or more leaves and were classified by rating. Samsung Medical Center achieved the highest rating of five leaves. Additionally, based on its achievements in sustainable infrastructure and expert evaluations, it was also selected as one of only 24 hospitals worldwide to receive the 'Outstanding Sustainable Infrastructure Hospital' designation.
Park Seung-woo, President of Samsung Medical Center, stated, "This recognition reflects not only the excellence of our medical services but also our efforts in sustainable management that encompasses environmental, social, and transparent governance. We will continue to advance patient-centered healthcare services alongside our ESG management to lead sustainable future healthcare."
Since launching its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) committee in 2021, Samsung Medical Center has integrated eco-friendly management into its healthcare practices. Starting in 2023, the hospital has published annual ESG reports detailing its achievements and plans related to ESG.
In its funeral service department, Samsung Medical Center introduced reusable containers in 2024, becoming the first among general hospitals to do so, which reduced disposable waste by approximately 80%. Last year, it replaced artificial flowers, which typically use a lot of plastic, with 100% biodegradable flowers to promote an eco-friendly funeral culture.
Eco-friendly initiatives have also expanded into core medical areas such as wards and operating rooms. The hospital has reduced medical waste and implemented an eco-friendly dialysis system that adjusts the use of dialysis fluid based on blood flow rates, thereby decreasing wastewater discharge.
The hospital is also actively managing the use of anesthetic gases with high global warming potential (GWP). It has fully expanded a paperless system, including the digitization of medications and testing processes, and online issuance of medical record copies, which has reduced paper usage and waste generated during administrative processes.
Samsung Medical Center has received multiple recognitions for its sustainable management efforts. In 2023, it became the first general hospital to win both the 'Korea Sustainability Index (KSI)' and the 'Sustainability Reporting Award (KRCA).' In 2024, it received the overall ESG award at the inaugural 'K-ESG Management Awards' in the healthcare sector. Last year, it was awarded the Presidential Citation in the sustainable management category at the National Quality Management Conference, and this year, it was selected as an 'Outstanding Hospital for Carbon Neutral Activities' by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
In addition to its eco-friendly management, Samsung Medical Center has also ranked highly in international evaluations in the healthcare sector. In February of this year, Newsweek ranked it 26th among the world's best hospitals and first in South Korea. In specialty evaluations, it has ranked third in the world for cancer treatment for two consecutive years.
On August 7, Samsung Medical Center announced that it ranked in the top 0.6% of all hospitals evaluated, according to the results released on August 6 (local time). This year marks the first time Newsweek has conducted a global evaluation of eco-friendly hospitals, considering sustainability based on environmental performance data and expert recommendations.
Among the hospitals evaluated, 250 received three or more leaves and were classified by rating. Samsung Medical Center achieved the highest rating of five leaves. Additionally, based on its achievements in sustainable infrastructure and expert evaluations, it was also selected as one of only 24 hospitals worldwide to receive the 'Outstanding Sustainable Infrastructure Hospital' designation.
Park Seung-woo, President of Samsung Medical Center, stated, "This recognition reflects not only the excellence of our medical services but also our efforts in sustainable management that encompasses environmental, social, and transparent governance. We will continue to advance patient-centered healthcare services alongside our ESG management to lead sustainable future healthcare."
Since launching its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) committee in 2021, Samsung Medical Center has integrated eco-friendly management into its healthcare practices. Starting in 2023, the hospital has published annual ESG reports detailing its achievements and plans related to ESG.
In its funeral service department, Samsung Medical Center introduced reusable containers in 2024, becoming the first among general hospitals to do so, which reduced disposable waste by approximately 80%. Last year, it replaced artificial flowers, which typically use a lot of plastic, with 100% biodegradable flowers to promote an eco-friendly funeral culture.
Eco-friendly initiatives have also expanded into core medical areas such as wards and operating rooms. The hospital has reduced medical waste and implemented an eco-friendly dialysis system that adjusts the use of dialysis fluid based on blood flow rates, thereby decreasing wastewater discharge.
The hospital is also actively managing the use of anesthetic gases with high global warming potential (GWP). It has fully expanded a paperless system, including the digitization of medications and testing processes, and online issuance of medical record copies, which has reduced paper usage and waste generated during administrative processes.
Samsung Medical Center has received multiple recognitions for its sustainable management efforts. In 2023, it became the first general hospital to win both the 'Korea Sustainability Index (KSI)' and the 'Sustainability Reporting Award (KRCA).' In 2024, it received the overall ESG award at the inaugural 'K-ESG Management Awards' in the healthcare sector. Last year, it was awarded the Presidential Citation in the sustainable management category at the National Quality Management Conference, and this year, it was selected as an 'Outstanding Hospital for Carbon Neutral Activities' by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
In addition to its eco-friendly management, Samsung Medical Center has also ranked highly in international evaluations in the healthcare sector. In February of this year, Newsweek ranked it 26th among the world's best hospitals and first in South Korea. In specialty evaluations, it has ranked third in the world for cancer treatment for two consecutive years.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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