Sustainable Procurement Index for Health

The Sustainable Procurement Index for Health (SPIH) is a globally established, recognised and adaptable procurement measurement tool, jointly developed by Health Care Without Harm and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 

To access the tools: 

The SPIH consists of a set of questions and a scoring approach across key themes which can be used to identify the sustainability credentials of a supplier and its products. The tool was developed to help policy makers, manufacturers, suppliers, procurers, and health care facilities monitor:

  • Greenhouse gas emissions, 
  • Resource depletion (water, energy and material consumption), 
  • Chemical / toxic impact on human and environmental health, and 
  • Human rights, labor rights and gender equality. 

Sustainable Procurement Index for Health

The SPIH was primarily designed  to support the decision-making process as part of a procurement event such as, for example, selecting a supplier. The tool can be used at any stage of procurement including prequalification and evaluation. 

The General SPIH Tool covers general healthcare commodities, such as medical gloves and biomedical devices. The Pharmaceutical SPIH Tool covers pharmaceutical products, such as malaria medication. 

The SPIH has been designed to accelerate sustainable procurement in the health sector, by: 

  • Supporting the decision making of buyers, and providing certainty to suppliers during the procurement process; 
  • Providing a consistent, robust and transparent method, that clearly communicates expectations for supply chain performance; 
  • Being proportionate and relevant, respecting the materiality and capability in the supply chain; and 
  • Providing clear pathways for stakeholders to improve their performance, not just focusing on risk