Bio-medical waste management : an insight approach

Abstract

The management of health care waste is a subject of considerable concern to public health and infection-control specialists, as well as the general public. It is a well known fact that in several types of health care activities, various types of hazardous and contagious materials are generated. Even though the consequences of discarding such waste carelessly are well known, it is only recently that adequate initiatives to manage this waste in a scientific manner are being taken in India. Unscientific disposal of health care waste may lead to the transmission of communicable diseases such as gastro-enteric infections, respiratory infections, spreading through air water and direct human contact with the blood and infectious body fluids. The problem of 'bio-medical waste' (BMW) disposal in the hospitals and other healthcare establishments has become an issue of increasing concern, prompting hospital administration to seek new ways of scientific, safe and cost effective management of the waste, and keeping their personnel informed about the advances in this area. The need of proper hospital waste management system is of prime importance and is an essential component of quality assurance in hospitals. A well designed waste policy, a legislative framework, and plans for achieving local implementation are essential.