Ethical Sourcing and Humanitarianism Work Hand in Hand in Healthcare

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in protecting and improving lives every day. Whether caring for patients in hospitals or supporting communities through public health initiatives, their work contributes to the wellbeing of people around the world.

While many healthcare workers serve in routine care settings, others provide critical support in the most challenging circumstances, responding to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, conflicts, and humanitarian crises. On World Humanitarian Day, we recognise the dedication of those who work to safeguard health and dignity wherever they are needed most.

Embedding Ethical Sourcing Across the Supply Chain

At Medline, focus is not only placed on the safety of those using our products but also on the rights and well-being of the individuals involved in their production.

As a global leader in providing high-quality medical and surgical products, Medline Europe supports healthcare systems in delivering safe, reliable, and high-quality healthcare products. The implementation of our Ethical Sourcing Programme is the backbone that enables it.

Our Ethical Sourcing Programme is grounded in internationally recognized standards, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, the Social Accountability International Standard (SA8000), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The programme extends to our suppliers the same standards we set for ourselves, while reflecting industry best practices.

Key components of our programme globally include the Supplier Code of Conduct which establishes clear expectations for our partners and encourages transparency and accountability within their network. Additionally, it also includes our Modern Slavery Statement where Medline outlines the actions it takes to combat modern slavery, forced and child labour, and human trafficking in it its operations and supply chains.

Medline partners with numerous suppliers to produce Medline-branded products. As a condition of doing business with us, these suppliers are expected to comply with Medline’s Supplier Code of Conduct. We strive to maintain compliance by regularly assessing risks across our supply chain and conducting social audits to identify potential health and safety issues, as well as risks related to forced labour, child labour, working hours, and other potential violations of fundamental human rights.

In addition, Medline has also partnered with the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production - WRAP for 10 years, further strengthening and expanding our social compliance program by actively monitoring and promoting labour and human rights with eligible suppliers.

Adapting to a Changing Global Procurement Landscape

Procurement today, not only in healthcare, is shaped by geopolitical instability, technological advancements, and increasing regulatory demands around sustainability performance. Consequently, Medline is continuously evolving its global approach of our Ethical Sourcing Programme.

Medline’s Ethical Sourcing team works closely with our global sourcing organisation to implement upstream due diligence, prioritising indicators such as geography, product type, and industrial process. This approach is designed to help us identify potential risks early and strengthen oversight where it matters most.

In 2025, our Ethical Sourcing team conducted over 500 audits and commissioned an additional 200+ independent third-party audits. By conducting these social compliance audits, along with supplier risk assessments, and corrective action plans whenever necessary, the team is able verify that suppliers maintain these standards throughout our business partnership.

Humanitarian Needs are Ongoing

World Humanitarian Day shines a light on the contributions of those who often go unnoticed. Those who work to protect the health, safety, and dignity of others. It also serves as a reminder that safeguarding human rights requires collective action across all sectors.

Through Medline's Ethical Sourcing Programme, we are continuously strengthening our responsible sourcing practices and advancing alignment with recognised ethical business standards. By promoting fair and safe working conditions throughout our supply chain, we aim to contribute to creating a more responsible and respectful working environment for the manufacturing workers who also help make healthcare run better.