A1 Health phases out desflurane anaesthesia in Indonesia

It has lowered carbon emissions in operating rooms by 25%.

Asia OneHealthcare Sdn Bhd’s (A1Health) network of hospitals in Indonesia has stopped using desflurane, an anaesthesia product with a much heavier environmental toll than its alternatives.

The shift has lowered carbon emissions in the operating rooms of Columbia Asia Hospitals and RS Premier Hospitals by about 25% overall, including a 38% reduction in desflurane-related emissions, Alouisius Maseimilian, country CEO for Indonesia at A1Health, told Healthcare Asia in an interview.

“Sustainability is no longer a choice but an obligation,” he said. “Modern hospitals must care not only for patients but also for the environment.”

Desflurane generates about 20 times more greenhouse gases than sevoflurane, the anaesthetic now used in its place. Doctors have switched to sevoflurane with lower gas flow techniques, which the hospital said delivers the same safety and effectiveness for patients whilst reducing consumption and costs.

The hospital tracks anaesthesia use and converts it into carbon emissions, with the data displayed on a digital sustainability dashboard that staff can monitor in real time. Maseimilian said this visibility has helped drive adoption among doctors and nurses.

Cultural resistance was the biggest hurdle. Some staff were slow to change their habits, so the hospital introduced training sessions, internal workshops, and “champion doctors” who led by example.

“Behavioural change does not happen overnight,” Maseimilian said. “Training and leadership showed that sustainability and quality care can go hand in hand.”

The desflurane-free programme is part of A1Health’s broader roadmap toward sustainable hospitals, which also includes energy efficiency improvements, medical waste reduction, and patient education on sustainable practices.

“Hospitals of the future are not just places of healing but also agents of social and environmental change,” Maseimilian added. “We want to leave behind not only high-quality healthcare but also a green legacy for the next generation.”