Rizwan Ahmed, Director – Pharmacy for Southern Health-Santé Sud, presented on behalf of the region at the 2025 Choosing Wisely Canada National Meeting, held in Winnipeg this past May.  

This year’s event centred around the theme – Less, but Better, encouraging health care professionals to move beyond simply reducing unnecessary care and to focus on enhancing quality — for patients, the health system and the planet. The two-day national gathering brought together leaders and innovators from across Canada to share strategies, exchange ideas and promote sustainable, evidence-based practices.

Rizwan’s presentation focused on efforts to reduce the utilization of desflurane, a potent anesthetic agent with a high environmental impact. Desflurane remains in the atmosphere for approximately 10 years, compared to 3.6 years for isoflurane and 1.2 years for sevoflurane. With a definitive goal of removing desflurane from the Southern Health-Santé Sud formulary, the region has already achieved a nearly 50% reduction in its use since 2022. His presentation highlighted not only the clinical and environmental rationale behind this initiative, but also the practical strategies used to engage clinicians and support change. Ahmed’s leadership in this area reflects Southern Health-Santé Sud’s commitment to sustainability and high-value care in the delivery of health services.