Navigating the path to SDG3: unveiling the tensions within healthcare organizations

Maria Cristina Zaccone, Giacomo Ciambotti and Matteo Pedrini

Chapter 8 in The Elgar Companion to Social Innovation and the Sustainable Development Goals, 2026, pp 156-180 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter explores the tensions faced by healthcare organizations in pursuing sustainability and navigating tensions to better achieve SDG3 of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Through interviews with 21 professionals from hospitals, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies, the study identifies environmental tensions (excessive waste, energy consumption, and water usage) and social tensions (imbalance between doctors’ and nurses’ personal and professional lives, leading to physical and psychological distress due to the demand for prompt services). To address these challenges, healthcare organizations have implemented three key social innovations: governing sustainability by introducing dedicated structures and monitoring practices, leveraging technology to reduce consumption and embrace e-health services, and empowering employees through integrated thinking, fostering a supportive environment, and establishing an incentive system tied to sustainability goals. These insights provide fresh perspectives on how healthcare organizations integrate social innovation practices to achieve greater social and environmental goals.

Keywords: SDGs; Sustainable Health; Healthcare Organizations; Tensions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035326037
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