Reliable energy provision – particularly electricity – is crucial to power the medical equipment necessary to safely manage childbirth or to ensure immunization as well as for undertaking most of the routine and emergency procedures. Yet, populations in low- and middle-income countries are often served by health-care facilities without reliable electricity or with no electricity access at all all (WHO, World Bank, IRENA & SEforALL, 2023). Health-care facilities in rural areas are especially vulnerable from lack of electricity supply or frequent electricity outages. A number of clean and cost-effective energy solutions, such as based on solar photovoltaics, is available and rapidly deployable to electrify health-care facilities sustainably and increase their climate resilience.

Strategies to accelerate electrification of health-care facilities include assessing the energy needs in health-care facilities more systematically; supporting the design and implement clean energy plans, tailored to the needs of the health sector; and developing policy and finance schemes to unlock the potential of sustainable energy solutions, and to address the health sector needs.