IoT-Based Environmental Monitoring to Reduce Healthcare Facilities' Environmental Impact

Healthcare facilities are vital to public health, but they also significantly impact the environment through energy and water consumption, medical waste, and pollutant emissions. This article explores the role of Internet of Things (IoT)-based environmental monitoring systems in minimizing hospitals' ecological footprint. IoT systems use real-time data from smart sensors to track air and water quality, energy usage, and waste volume. The analysis is framed by Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), the One Health approach, and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model. A narrative literature review (2019–2024) highlights IoT's potential to improve pollution control, resource efficiency, and environmental compliance in healthcare settings. Despite clear benefits, implementation faces barriers such as high costs, cybersecurity risks, limited digital skills, and regulatory gaps. The article concludes that IoT offers a strategic path toward sustainable healthcare, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 6, 11, and 13.