The use of cloth bags in place of plastic bags for the delivery of medicine and medical accessories at Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital

Abstract

        This pilot project aimed to reduce the use of plastic bags and plastic garbage in delivering medicine and medical accessories from the pharmacy to in-patient wards through the use of cloth bags. It was conducted on the sixth floor of the Mahidol Adulyadej in-patient building, Queen Savang Vadhna Hospital from May, 20, 2008 to August, 20, 2008. The project was part of the efforts of the hospital to alleviate global warming and was able to cut the hospital’s costs in the purchase of plastic bags and in garbage incineration.
        When cloth bags were used to deliver medicine and medical accessories, the number of plastic bags was reduced on average by 1,380 bags per month. The use of cloth bags was also cheaper than plastic bags by 147 baht per month.
        Hospital staff expressed favorable opinions about the use of cloth bags to delver medicine and medical accessories. They facilitated the delivery of medicine and medical accessories between the pharmacy and the in-patient ward, reduced costs, and contributed to the alleviation of global warming.