Awareness and use of ecological and economic evaluation of medical devices in healthcare centers: a survey of French hospitals
Abstract
Objectives The objective of this study is to examine current practices regarding the integration of environmental and economic impact assessments in decision making for medical device procurement across French healthcare facilities. These findings will reveal the barriers to environmental criteria integration in Hospital-Based Health Technology Assessment (HB-HTA). Methods A cross-sectional survey, collected between 21 May and 12 July 2024, explored knowledge and implementation of environmental and economic assessments in hospital-based medical device procurement. Disseminated nationwide through the French Interregional Clinical Research and Innovation Groups (GIRCI), the French National Agency for Support to Healthcare Performance (ANAP) network, and via Territorial Hospital Groups, targeting public and private healthcare centers, the eight-section survey addressed governance, eco-responsible procurement, environmental data accessibility, and experience with joint assessments and certification practices. Results Twenty-nine healthcare centers were analyzed, mostly regional or university hospitals or community hospitals (88 percent), primarily in the public sector. A structured approach to ecological transition was reported by 76 percent of institutions. Eco-responsible purchasing measures were implemented in nineteen centers (83 percent); however, access to life-cycle assessment data, especially for upstream manufacturing phases, remained limited. Forty-five percent of institutions had conducted joint environmental-economic assessments. Although 70 percent of respondents were aware of responsible procurement certifications schemes, only 36 percent used them. Conclusions French healthcare institutes demonstrate growing awareness and engagement in sustainable procurement practices. However, limited access to standardized environmental data blocks systematic integration of environmental criteria into procurement practices and thus HB-HTA. Strengthening supplier transparency, harmonizing evaluation frameworks, and embedding environmental metrics into both processes could accelerate sustainable transition.
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BibTeX
@article{bouvet2026awareness,
title = {{Awareness and use of ecological and economic evaluation of medical devices in healthcare centers: a survey of French hospitals}},
author = {Sophie Bouvet and Sarah Kabani and Manuel Roulaud and Elodie Benhaim and Thierry Chevallier and Virginie Chasseigne and Audrey Cordon and Sihame Chkair},
journal = {International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1017/s0266462326104048},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05848338v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Awareness and use of ecological and economic evaluation of medical devices in healthcare centers: a survey of French hospitals
AU - Sophie Bouvet
AU - Sarah Kabani
AU - Manuel Roulaud
AU - Elodie Benhaim
AU - Thierry Chevallier
AU - Virginie Chasseigne
AU - Audrey Cordon
AU - Sihame Chkair
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
DO - 10.1017/s0266462326104048
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05848338v1
AB - Objectives The objective of this study is to examine current practices regarding the integration of environmental and economic impact assessments in decision making for medical device procurement across French healthcare facilities. These findings will reveal the barriers to environmental criteria integration in Hospital-Based Health Technology Assessment (HB-HTA). Methods A cross-sectional survey, collected between 21 May and 12 July 2024, explored knowledge and implementation of environmental and economic assessments in hospital-based medical device procurement. Disseminated nationwide through the French Interregional Clinical Research and Innovation Groups (GIRCI), the French National Agency for Support to Healthcare Performance (ANAP) network, and via Territorial Hospital Groups, targeting public and private healthcare centers, the eight-section survey addressed governance, eco-responsible procurement, environmental data accessibility, and experience with joint assessments and certification practices. Results Twenty-nine healthcare centers were analyzed, mostly regional or university hospitals or community hospitals (88 percent), primarily in the public sector. A structured approach to ecological transition was reported by 76 percent of institutions. Eco-responsible purchasing measures were implemented in nineteen centers (83 percent); however, access to life-cycle assessment data, especially for upstream manufacturing phases, remained limited. Forty-five percent of institutions had conducted joint environmental-economic assessments. Although 70 percent of respondents were aware of responsible procurement certifications schemes, only 36 percent used them. Conclusions French healthcare institutes demonstrate growing awareness and engagement in sustainable procurement practices. However, limited access to standardized environmental data blocks systematic integration of environmental criteria into procurement practices and thus HB-HTA. Strengthening supplier transparency, harmonizing evaluation frameworks, and embedding environmental metrics into both processes could accelerate sustainable transition.
SN - 0266-4623
SN - 1471-6348
ER -