Assessment of the Main Elements for a Healthcare Waste Management System Using Analytical Hierarchical Process

Abstract

When addressing Healthcare Waste Management (HCWM), numerous factors play a crucial role in ensuring its safety and environmentally responsible handling within institutional processes. Recognizing this imperative, this study employed the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) methodology to establish a comprehensive assessment of 10 primary criteria and 66 sub-criteria concerning the governance and operational aspects of Healthcare Waste Management. This evaluation was based on the insights of 14 specialists in the field. It demonstrated innovation by prioritizing essential elements for the construction and maintenance of a comprehensive Healthcare Waste Management System. The results indicated the paramount importance of Treatment and Collection Services, which accounted for 13.4% of the overall assessment. Among the sub-criteria within this domain, the Number of Environmental Fines emerged as particularly significant, constituting 32.2% of the total assessment. Following closely, the Best Destination for Biological Waste criterion garnered 13.3% importance, while Monitoring Healthcare Waste Management Plan and Prioritization of Operational Steps ranked 12.7% and 10.9%, respectively. These insights and conclusions will guide stakeholders in developing an effective Healthcare Waste Management System that addresses critical dimensions such as biosafety, legal compliance, environmental stewardship, and financial sustainability.