Green Breathing - What Is The Added Economic Value Of Carbon Minimal Medical Products? - A Case Study Of Inhalers

Sep 29, 2026

Healthcare systems contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, with inhalers identified as a particularly problematic device category. This partial economic evaluation examines carbon minimal pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) under the assumption of clinical equivalence to current standard pMDIs, offsetting outcomes and downstream resources in an incremental framework. The analysis quantifies carbon reductions using published life cycle assessments and translates them into incremental costs and value, including parallel and integrated evaluation approaches.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

OP51 Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Gene Panel In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Medical Care Audrey Nganbou ([a.nganbou@has-sante.fr](a.nganbou@has-sante.fr)), Denis-Jean David and Cédric Carbonneil Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a malignant hematologic disorder that affects older adults. CLL is the most common leukemia in adults in the Western world. The genomic landscape of CLL is heterogeneous. The aim of this report was to identify the clinically relevant molecular alterations in CLL and define the role of targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) in routine care. Methods: The evaluation included an analysis of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical guidelines, and relevant molecular alterations using OncoKB™ and TOPOGRAPH classifications. Approvals from the French National Authority for Health Transparency Committee or compassionate use decisions from the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety were also considered. Results: Targeted NGS in CLL detected molecular alterations to determine prognosis and guide treatment decisions with a higher sensitivity than Sanger sequencing. The recommended analyses include: • TP53 and IGHV mutations before first-line treatment; • TP53 mutation before treatment modification in relapse cases; • TP53, BTK, and PLCG2 mutations after treatment with BTK inhibitors; • TP53 and BCL2 mutations after treatment with BCL2 inhibitors; or • TP53, BTK, PLCG2, and BCL2 mutations after treatment with both BTK and BCL2 inhibitors. Conclusions: Targeted NGS is essential for managing CLL. The gene panel will be updated dynamically based on new scientific evidence and regulatory approvals. OP52 Green Breathing: What Is The Added Economic Value Of Carbon Minimal Medical Products? A Case Study Of Inhalers Sukanya Subramaniyan ([ssubramaniyan@ohe.org](ssubramaniyan@ohe.org)) and Grace Hampson Introduction: Healthcare systems are substantial greenhouse gas emitters, responsible for five percent of emissions worldwide. Inhalers are particularly problematic, and while all inhalers have a negative impact, pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) are the worst offenders. With carbon minimal pMDIs in development, this research evaluated the economic value that selected carbon minimal pMDIs could offer and explored how this value can be represented in economic evaluations. Methods: The analysis employed a partial economic evaluation framework. Given the carbon minimal and current standard pMDIs are expected to be clinically equivalent, clinical outcomesand downstream resources offset each other in an incremental analysis. Thus, the evaluation centered around reduction in carbon and incremental costs. Two approaches were undertaken: parallel and integrated evaluation. Environment impact (carbon footprint) was sourced from published life cycle assessments, dosage was based on international guidelines, and costs were taken from the British National Formulary. The cost of carbon used was the UK Treasury’s carbon value ofGBP269(USD370) per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) . Results: Current selected pMDIs produce 103 kg to 150 kg of CO2e per person per year depending on which product is used, whereas the carbon minimal pMDIs produce 13 kg to 18 kg of CO2e per person per year, a reduction of around 88 percent. The undiscounted additional value of the selected carbon minimal pMDIs ranges from GBP776 (USD1,068) to GBP1,134 (USD1,561) per person with asthma over their lifetime. Based on these results, at a population level, if all people currently being prescribed pMDIs moved to a low carbon pMDIs, this could save carbon emissions to the value of GBP112 to 166 million (USD154 to 229 million) annually in the UK alone. Conclusions: The added value demonstrates the environmental and economic benefits available from switching from existing pMDIs to low carbon pMDIs where clinical outcomes are equivalent. This additional value can be refl

FAQs

Why are inhalers considered particularly problematic in emissions studies?

All inhalers have a negative impact, but pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) are identified as the worst offenders in the document.

What assumption underpins the economic evaluation in this case study?

The study assumes carbon minimal pMDIs and current standard pMDIs are clinically equivalent, so clinical outcomes and downstream resources offset each other in an incremental analysis.

How large is the carbon reduction reported for carbon minimal pMDIs?

The results show carbon minimal pMDIs produce 13–18 kg of CO2e per person per year versus 103–150 kg for current selected pMDIs, corresponding to an ~88% reduction.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Wilson