A symphony of circularity & sustainability – The 5D MUSIC model in healthcare

If we could innovate the solutions that can make the healthcare affordable, economical, and environmental friendly, we can build a healthy planet.

Healthcare sustainability is an increasingly critical concern worldwide. As populations grow, medical technology advances, and the cost of healthcare escalates, the challenge of maintaining accessible, high-quality healthcare at affordable rates, while conserving resources, becomes paramount. In this context, the innovative 5-Dimensional MUSIC (Multi Unit Selective Inventory Control) model offers a novel approach to healthcare sustainability, harmonizing circular economy principles, and innovation like a symphony orchestra.

A sustainable healthcare system seeks to optimize resource allocation, reduce waste, and improve patient outcomes while considering ethical and environmental concerns. Healthcare sustainability pertains to the capacity to provide healthcare services and maintain systems efficiently over the long term without depleting resources or causing harm to the environment. It encompasses not only economic sustainability but also social and environmental sustainability.

The concept of a circular economy has gained momentum in recent years as societies seek more sustainable and environmentally responsible approaches to economic activity. A circular economy is an economic system designed to maximize resource utilization, minimize waste, and reduce environmental impact. It contrasts with the traditional linear economy, which follows a take-make-dispose model, where resources are extracted, products are manufactured, used, and then discarded as waste. In contrast, a circular economy aims to keep resources and products in use for as long as possible through strategies like recycling, reusing, and reducing waste.

The 5D MUSIC model is a multifaceted approach that brings together five elements – consumption value, criticality of the items, lead time, methods, and effective utilization of resources. Like a symphony composed of various instruments, all these components work in harmony to enhance sustainability by adopting CQO approaches, lean sigma concepts, and circular economy principles. The only approach that addresses the three dimensions of sustainability – social sustainability (people), economic sustainability (prosperity), and environmental sustainability (planet) and it integrates the various functions of the hospital, such as finance, operations, stores, purchasing, and waste management.

The two major challenges faced in healthcare are the high cost of treatment/surgical procedures due to high expensive medical devices, and the impact of huge medical waste generated daily that causes greenhouse gas emissions. The healthcare services are responsible for 4.4 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Most of the medical devices are quite expensive, which in turn would make these complex procedures unaffordable for majority of the population, particularly in developing countries like India. This has prompted to innovate a solution to achieve sustainable healthcare.

The innovative, novel 5D methodology results in significant cost savings and significant reduction in the generation of medical waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, healthcare can be made more affordable and sustainable – social, economic, and environmental.

The cost of procedures can be reduced by almost 60 percent if this method is followed by ensuring strict control on hygiene and safety. The benefits derived out of economic, environmental, and clinical outcomes can be shared with the community to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. This also results in significant improvement in clinical outcome/quality service level/patient satisfaction due to timely availability and delivery of items.

As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with the challenges of providing high-quality care at affordable rates, the 5D MUSIC model offers a promising path forward. It is a symphony of innovation that has the power to transform healthcare into a more efficient, cost-effective, and environment-friendly system, while benefitting patients, society, organization, and the planet.