Academic Journal
Planetary health leadership to drive climate action across pharmaceutical supply chains: insights from qualitative research and a call to action.
| Title: | Planetary health leadership to drive climate action across pharmaceutical supply chains: insights from qualitative research and a call to action. |
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| Authors: | Booth A; Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK amy.booth@gtc.ox.ac.uk., Breen L; School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK., Wieringa S; Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK., Shaw SE; Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. |
| Source: | BMJ leader [BMJ Lead] 2026 Jun 26; Vol. 10 (2), pp. 165-171. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 26. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101757339 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2398-631X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 2398631X NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Lead Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: London : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, [2017]- |
| MeSH Terms: | Drug Industry*/organization & administration , Leadership* , Climate Change*, Pharmaceutical Preparations/supply & distribution ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Global Health ; Delivery of Health Care |
| Abstract: | Introduction: Pharmaceutical manufacture, delivery and use produces an estimated 10%-55% of national healthcare greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing pharmaceutical supply chain emissions is essential to mitigating healthcare's climate impact. Our research aimed to explore the constraints to pharmaceutical supply chain climate action and how planetary health leadership can overcome these challenges. Methods: We conducted 21 narrative interviews with representatives from pharmaceutical companies and industry and health system stakeholders. Interviews explored perspectives on climate action across pharmaceutical supply chains. Analysis was informed by argumentative discourse analysis, enabling the identification of key storylines. Results: Climate action across pharmaceutical supply chains is sporadic and insufficient to achieve health system climate goals. Critical constraints to climate action include (a) structural constraints, particularly complex, fragmented, global supply chains as well as limited renewable energy infrastructure in some countries where supply chains operate and (b) conceptual constraints, the 'patient-profit-planet dilemma', where climate action is perceived to conflict with patient well-being and financial considerations.Planetary health leadership can help overcome these constraints in three key ways. First, planetary health leadership can help reconceptualise healthcare delivery, and the role of pharmaceuticals, to align patient and planetary well-being while meeting financial pressures. Second, planetary health leadership can mobilise collective climate action across pharmaceutical supply chains, reframing climate change as a shared problem and challenging issues of transparency, competition and blame. Third, planetary health leadership can challenge wider systems that constrain climate action, leveraging the economic and political power of pharmaceutical supply chains to drive global decarbonisation efforts. Conclusion: Planetary health leadership must confront considerable constraints to embed planetary health considerations across pharmaceutical supply chains. Leaders in this space must be willing to go against the status quo and challenge entrenched norms and systems to enable wider spread and support for sustainable healthcare delivery. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.) |
| Competing Interests: | Competing interests: AB provides independent consulting on sustainability for external consultancies, including Republic and Open Health Group, which collaborate with healthcare companies. SES has received funding from Ipsos Mori for independent consulting relating to evaluation and technology-enabled care. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: clinical leadership; health system; medical leadership; public health; sustainability |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Pharmaceutical Preparations) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250710 Date Completed: 20260627 Latest Revision: 20260629 |
| Update Code: | 20260629 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/leader-2025-001253 |
| PMID: | 40639937 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2398-631X |
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| DOI: | 10.1136/leader-2025-001253 |