According to the South American Overseas Chinese News Network, starting from October 29, Costa Rica's domestic public medical units gradually implemented an environmental pilot program, which uses paper bags to replace disposable plastic bags when delivering drugs to patients.
According to reports, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, which manages the national public health agency, explained that the pilot program has been located in Calderon Guardia Hospital, one of the most important hospitals in the country, as well as in the suburb of Coronado and Arti in San José. The clinic in the suburbs of Liaozhen is implemented.
Vega, the national medical services coordinator of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, said in a statement that the initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of the health sector by controlling the carbon footprint.
According to official data, Costa Rica's national public medical units consume an average of 400 million plastic bags per year for the packaging of medicines for patients. In 2017, all medical institutions managed by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund issued a total of 84.7 million prescriptions.
The Costa Rican Social Security Fund points out that replacing paper bags with disposable plastic bags, in addition to being more environmentally friendly, can better protect their privacy when delivering drugs to patients.
In addition, the international medical authority will require more drug suppliers to use cardboard boxes to provide medicines, which will help protect the environment and reduce labor costs in packaging.