Patients collecting medication from the National University Hospital (NUH) pharmacies from Nov 1, will have to bring their own bags as the hospital adopts more sustainable efforts.
In a Facebook post on Monday (Oct 26), it said plastic bags will "no longer be routinely issued or sold" at their pharmacies, encouraging patients to bring reusable bags, adding that this was contributing "towards a greener, more sustainable future".
Patients who forget to bring their own can also find donated bags at racks outside some pharmacies.
Reusable bags will also be available for purchase at NUH's retail pharmacy outlets, Health & U, the post said.
NUH is the first hospital in the world to receive the Healthcare Sustainability Certificate, according to its website.
The recognition was awarded by Joint Commission International (JCI) in collaboration with the Geneva Sustainability Centre (GSC) of the International Hospital Federation.
The certificate was conferred May 2025 and is effective until May 2028.
NUH has since been able to cut plastic use by over 50 per cent by phasing out the use of small plastic bags.
With the phasing out of plastic bags starting November as well as other efforts, it also aims to achieve a 60 per cent recycling rate by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2045.
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swetha.sundararajan@asiaone.com
