#21
MP SHAH HOSPITAL
Hospitals are naturally centres of care, with an inherent responsibility to improve lives and foster wellbeing. For MP Shah Hospital, this responsibility goes beyond patient care – it is interwoven with a commitment to sustainability. Under the leadership of CEO Dr. Toseef Din, the hospital has become a stalwart in the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) space through its visionary Green 365 Strategy, launched to integrate sustainability into the core of its operations. This strategy reflects the hospital’s enduring values and innovative spirit, further cementing its place as a key player in sustainable healthcare.
Founded in 1928 as a nursing home, MP Shah Hospital has grown into one of Kenya’s premier private healthcare institutions. With a history of excellence in care – ranging from kidney transplants to advanced cardiovascular surgeries – the hospital’s mission to do good has long been a defining element of its DNA. However, under Dr. Toseef’s leadership, this mission has evolved to include environmental stewardship, social equity, and robust governance practices, encapsulated in the Green 365 Strategy. The strategy’s initiatives, though met with challenges, demonstrate how healthcare institutions can take on a leading role in shaping a sustainable future.
MP Shah’s commitment to the environment is highlighted by its broad approach to reducing its carbon footprint. One of the most impactful initiatives is water conservation – recycling greywater for irrigation and installing reverse osmosis drinking water dispensers to eliminate bottled water waste. These efforts are vital steps towards reducing resource consumption. The hospital also installed solar panels to cut down its reliance on the grid, coupled with green landscaping projects and biophilic design to enhance natural aesthetics. A standout initiative was its partnership with Africa Collect Textiles (ACT) to recycle hospital textiles, significantly lowering pollution and encouraging a circular economy.
Socially, MP Shah has long been known for its profound impact on the community. The hospital regularly hosts blood drives and free medical camps, providing crucial care to underserved populations. Beyond this, MP Shah recognises the importance of gender diversity, with over 60 percent of its workforce being women. The hospital’s support of women extends beyond employment – through mentorship and leadership development, female staff are given platforms to thrive. Moreover, the institution’s mental health policy, launched to support staff’s psychological wellbeing, underscores its dedication to inclusivity and comprehensive care for employees. The hospital’s support of children with congenital heart disease through partnerships with Healing Little Hearts exemplifies how it uses its platform to impact the vulnerable positively. These efforts demonstrate the hospital’s social responsibility, not only to its staff and patients but to the wider community.
In terms of governance, MP Shah has embraced rigorous accountability and leadership practices that reflect its commitment to transparency and sustainability. Under the Green 365 Strategy, the hospital incorporated environmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into its Balanced Scorecards and launched green committees to champion sustainability. This leadership focus has enabled a culture of green behavior across the institution, where every employee, from the top executives to support staff, plays a role in reducing the hospital’s environmental impact. Governance also extends to the hospital’s robust supply chain management, ensuring no stock-outs of critical medicine while maintaining sustainable practices. Dr. Toseef’s leadership philosophy emphasises empowerment, delegation, and continuous self-development, ensuring that governance practices at MP Shah are not only ethical but also geared toward nurturing talent and building a resilient workforce.
The Green 365 Strategy has faced several challenges – budget constraints, the high costs of green innovations, and the need to change deeply ingrained behaviors among staff and patients. However, the hospital has persevered, driven by a clear recognition of the healthcare sector’s responsibility in embracing ESG. Even as inflation and supply chain challenges put pressure on finances, MP Shah Hospital continues to innovate, finding new ways to conserve energy, water, and other vital resources. As one of the few green-accredited hospitals in Kenya, it stands as a beacon of how sustainable healthcare can be achieved through determination and visionary leadership.
Ultimately, MP Shah’s journey in the ESG space, through its Green 365 Strategy, represents a blueprint for other institutions. It proves that sustainable healthcare is not just a future aspiration but a present-day reality, one where hospitals take an active role in creating healthier communities and a healthier planet. Under Dr. Toseef Din’s thought leadership, MP Shah has shown that despite challenges, positive change is possible, reaffirming its commitment to a ‘Legacy of Care’ that transcends patient care to include environmental, social and corporate governance stewardship.
AUTHOR: MARTIN O’NEIL
EDITOR: MARILENE MERCY
