Amid growing environmental and economic challenges, sustainable development has evolved from a theoretical concept into an urgent necessity—especially in vital fields like medical engineering. In this context, sustainability means designing medical and engineering solutions that are eco-friendly, minimize waste, and provide effective healthcare at reasonable costs. Examples include using recyclable materials in prosthetics or developing medical devices that consume less energy and have longer lifespans.
Iraqi universities have begun to recognize the importance of this shift. This reflects a growing awareness of the need to integrate sustainability principles into curricula and research, ensuring that future engineers and doctors can deliver both innovative and sustainable solutions.
The real challenge, however, lies in practical implementation. A lack of sufficient funding, weak infrastructure, and limited public-private partnerships all hinder the transformation of these visions into tangible outcomes. Still, with academic and research-driven determination—supported by institutional and legislative backing—sustainable development can become a genuine solution, not just a slogan, in building a more equitable and efficient medical and engineering system.