NUH to stop offering plastic bags at pharmacies from November

SINGAPORE – Patients and members of the public collecting medication at the National University Hospital’s (NUH) pharmacies should bring their own bags from November, after the hospital announced that it would stop issuing plastic bags.

The public hospital said in a Facebook post on Oct 26 that plastic bags will “no longer be routinely issued or sold” at its pharmacies, adding that the move is part of its sustainability efforts.

NUH encouraged those who are visiting its pharmacies to bring a reusable bag when collecting their medication.

Those who do not have reusable bags during their visits can grab a donated one from racks placed outside pharmacies across NUH’s main building, medical centre and Kent Ridge wing, though this is subject to availability.

Visitors who need a bag may also purchase a reusable one at any outlets of NUH’s in-house retail pharmacy, Health & U.

“Thank you for helping to make a difference, one small step at a time towards a greener, more sustainable future!” NUH said in its post.

According to the hospital’s website, NUH has cut plastic use by over 50% through the phasing out of small plastic bags at its pharmacies.

It also stopped providing plastic bags for staff bins, which saves approximately 200,000 plastic bags annually.

In reply to queries, NUH chief operating officer Jeremy Lee said on Oct 28 that the hospital has also partnered retail tenants to reduce plastic bag use.

He added that NUH has introduced mobile reminders in appointment alerts to encourage patients to have their own reusable bags with them when collecting medications or purchasing consumables.

“While plastic bags may still be provided in certain cases, such as for bulky items, our general approach is to reduce unnecessary use while ensuring that patients continue to have access to what they need,” he said.

The Straits Times has contacted the National University Health System – the public healthcare cluster in Singapore that includes NUH – for more information on plastic bag policies at its hospital pharmacies.

Singapore’s two other public healthcare clusters, NHG Health and SingHealth, have no immediate plans for an outright ban on plastic bags, but both have actively curbed single-use plastics through bag charges, opt-in policies and reusable bag initiatives.

In response to media queries, NHG Health said on Oct 27 that it is reviewing opportunities to reduce single-use plastics while making sure that medication can be carried safely.

“NHG Health has implemented various measures across our pharmacies to reduce plastic bag use, including bag charges and providing bags only on request, depending on the institution,” the group’s chief pharmacist Lim Hong Yee said.

Lim added that while NHG Health will continue to ensure that patients’ and caregivers’ needs are met, those collecting medications are encouraged to bring reusable bags when doing so.

Meanwhile, SingHealth said on Oct 28 that there is no clusterwide plan to discontinue the use of plastic bags.

However, the group’s chief pharmacist Lita Chew said SingHealth has introduced various measures to reduce the use of plastic bags since January 2024.

These include encouraging patients to bring their own bags, charging 10 cents for plastic bags at selected pharmacies, not providing bags by default and making reusable or recycled bags available.

Some institutions under SingHealth have seen up to a 70% decrease in plastic bag usage since the start of these measures, said Chew.

“We will continue to review our practices as we work towards a more sustainable healthcare environment,” she added.