Udupi: CSI Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital, Udupi, has been recognised among the world’s leading hospitals for environmental sustainability in Newsweek’s World’s Greenest Hospitals 2026 ranking, prepared in collaboration with global research and data firm Statista.
The hospital has received a four-leaf rating in the ranking, which selected 250 healthcare institutions worldwide after evaluating more than 4,000 hospitals across 36 countries.
The recognition is particularly significant as Lombard Hospital is among only 46 hospitals in the Asia-Pacific region and eight hospitals in India to feature in the global ranking. It is also a notable achievement for a healthcare institution serving a tier-two city such as Udupi.
The healthcare sector has a considerable environmental footprint, accounting for an estimated 4.5 to 5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Hospitals consume substantial quantities of energy and water and generate significant amounts of waste, making environmental sustainability an increasingly important component of responsible healthcare.
The four-leaf rating recognises hospitals that meet defined standards in green healthcare practices. The assessment considered sustainability data, expert inputs, certifications and accreditations, environmental achievements, sustainability commitments and pledges, as well as transparency in sustainability reporting.
The Newsweek recognition comes shortly after Lombard Hospital received the HELP Sustainability Excellence Award 2026 for Best Green Energy Efficiency Practices, further acknowledging its efforts towards sustainable healthcare.
The hospital’s sustainability initiatives have been implemented through its INSPIRE Green Hospital Project, launched in 2024 under the leadership of Director Dr. Sushil Jathanna.
As part of the initiative, the hospital has undertaken several measures, including the installation of solar power systems, carbon footprint assessment, energy and water conservation, improved waste segregation and management, campus greening and biodiversity conservation. Awareness programmes focusing on climate change and sustainability have also been conducted.
“This recognition is particularly encouraging because it shows that sustained efforts made at the local level can meet international standards,” Dr. Jathanna said.
He credited the hospital staff and students involved in implementing the INSPIRE programme and acknowledged the support extended by the Lombard Foundation and its advisors. He added that the hospital would continue to strengthen its initiatives towards environmentally responsible healthcare.
Founded in 1923 by Swiss missionary doctor Dr. Eva Lombard, the century-old CSI Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital is among the pioneering healthcare institutions in coastal Karnataka. The NABH-accredited hospital offers a range of major medical specialties and healthcare services.
