AZ Maria Middelares Leads World's Greenest Hospitals 2026 Ranking

AZ Maria Middelares in Gent, Belgium, received the highest sustainability score of five out of five in the World’s Greenest Hospitals 2026 ranking compiled by Newsweek and Statista. It is the only Belgian hospital to achieve this top rating and one of just 34 hospitals worldwide to do so.

Dutch hospitals Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) and Erasmus Medical Center (Erasmus MC) also appear in the list, earning scores of four and three respectively. The ranking evaluates 250 hospitals across 36 countries on criteria such as energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, water and waste management, sustainable procurement and governance transparency. Hospitals collectively account for about 4‑5 % of global greenhouse‑gas emissions, making the ranking a tool to promote greener practices while maintaining high care standards.