Corporate Social Responsibility and Occupational Health in Healthcare Organizations

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) includes a threefold commitment, economic, social, and environmental. There is a close link between this concept and that of social justice, traditionally concerned about social equality, equal opportunities, welfare state, or income distribution. In Europe, where most healthcare systems incorporate a significant public component, the number of hospitals committed to CSR is extremely low.

In 2008 the database of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) recorded only 5 organizations in the healthcare service sector. The University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves is the only hospital in Europe that since 2004 regularly publishes a sustainability report in accordance with GRI guidelines. In the last six years this hospital has strongly incorporated the promotion of socially responsible practices in its global strategy.

Based on the experience of this hospital, this paper addresses the strengths and weaknesses, difficulties and achievements, challenges and opportunities of CSR in the field of public hospitals as a way to convey the social impact of these organizations on society.

The experience drawn from this case study indicates a clear enhancement of positive hospital visibility in some relevant aspects related to occupational health such as health and safety at the workplace, accident prevention, and biological risks. We also observe a strong improvement in achievement of hospital goals in certain social issues such as health and employment creation, minimum wages, employment of women, and progress in terms of human capital.