EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON BIO-MEDICAL WASTE

MANAGEMENT

QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES AND RESEARCH METHODS IN

MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT

Submitted by
Mayuri Varkey
(PG190538)

SERVICE OPERATION MANAGEMENT STUDIO

(MONSOON SEMESTER – 2020)

Guided by
Dr. Gayatri Doctor
(Program Coordinator, CEPT University)
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON BIO-MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION
Of late, medical waste management has surfaced as an issue posing major concerns not only to hospitals, nursing
homes, medical facilities but also to the environment at large. Medical waste or better known as biomedical
waste management is a global concern, particularly due to the fact that its hazardous and the continual growth of
blood borne diseases like HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis-B, etc. Thus, the environment and the pollution board, GOI, 1998,
framed the rules of biomedical waste which is now the standard for any default.

The problem of medical hazardous waste management has been given a lot of consideration due to the rapid
progression of the pandemic and the surge of HIV infection. Therefore, basic handling and disposal procedures
are to be adhered to, to minimize the health risks connected with medical waste management. There is constant
mixing and merging of medical hazardous waste materials seen, despite the measures and standards that exist
within a hospital. The current scenario notes the instances and incidences of hospital borne infections is on a
continuous rise. The waste generation patterns in the hospital and its disposal procedures are not given due
importance. Many of the hospitals where the waste was thrown out of hospitals was to be taken care of by the
municipal corporation cleaners who were ignorant of biomedical health hazard. In order to overcome this, various
health organizations like the WHO, Environment and pollution control board have put forward safe guard, specific
norms, rules and guidelines for the safe disposal of medical waste. As Civil hospital is a main line health care
service provider and additionally a source for hospital waste generation with a great number of patients and
health care personnel involved, hence the study has been undertaken for the awareness and management of
hospital waste for Civil hospitals in Ahmedabad.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

The main aim of undertaking this study was to investigate and understand the level of knowledge and in-depth
measures and practices of health care workers on medical hazardous waste disposal. The objectives of this
research are to observe, assess and identify the existing practices of waste management. This will help to identify
the type of waste, segregation methods, quantity of waste and its disposal methods. An additional objective is to
assess the awareness of medical waste disposal procedures among the waste disposal workers.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The research pattern followed in this study is a descriptive research which is done through surveys and inquires
based fact findings. Some of them are as follows:

1. Through observational checklist for assessment of the existing system and sensitisation session, the
components which include sources of waste, type of wastes, collection of waste, storage of waste and
disposal methods were observed and recorded in a checklist.
2. Interaction with multiple levels of health care personal (like doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, technicians
ward boys, ASHA, housekeeping staff and other waste handlers).
3. To determine with the help of checklists and questionnaire surveys if health workers at Civil Hospital,
Ahmedabad are aware of the medical hazardous waste disposal practices.
RESULT

Overall assessment:

 The overall initial assessment of the researched hospital show that the medical liquid waste was more
appropriately managed as compared to the medical solid waste.
 None of the studied civil hospitals managed soiled infectious (hazardous) waste as per the guidelines.
 It was observed that one of the civil hospitals providing both IPD/ OPD had needle destroyer for
disfigurement of needles, but final disposable was not being done appropriately.

From the above results, it can be inferred that the type, size or the profile of the hospital has not influenced the
systems for safe management of health care waste.

ASSESSMENT OF THE SYSTEMS

The assessment of the sub-systems, like soiled infectious waste (bandage cloth), waste sharp management
(Needles, broken ampoules), plastic recyclables (syringes) and body fluids, reveals that though the current existing
systems do not fulfil the requirements of the Bio-medical waste Rules 1998, there were definite attempts at
managing the waste in the studied hospitals.

CONCLUSION
The current research study about the existing methods and protocols of waste management in Civil hospital, and
to identify the type of waste, segregation measures, quantification of waste and its disposal methods was
identified with the help of an observational checklist

The total hospital waste generated in Ahmedabad is estimated to be 5,142kgs/day accounting for 2.4% of the
total solid waste generated in the city. Quantity of medical waste generated in both the providing IP/OP services
i.e. civil hospital and Sola civil hospital is 0.78 kg and 0.68 kg/ bed/day respectively. The types of wastes generated
in the studied hospitals are general waste, pathological waste, infectious (hazardous) waste, and sharp waste.
General waste which is non-infectious accounts for a major part of the categories of waste which also includes
waste remains of dry leaves, twigs, powder of herbs which are all organic and biodegradable. Appropriate
segregation of the waste is recommended and the biodegradable share can be composite, organic waste can be
used as natural manure for growing plants/gardening. Sharp waste and hazardous waste are less compared to
other wastes so, infectious waste like sharps and other pathological waste if mixed with this non-infectious
general waste turns the entire waste to infectious and hence creates a burden in management of waste, both cost
wise and also in manual labour and management. [ CITATION Ray01 \l 16393 ]

RECOMMENDATIONS
An intensive training program should be conducted at regular intervals of time for all the medical and waste
management staff. Health education about hazards related medical as well as general wastes and means to
minimize them should be shared in the community. Adequate facilities needed for medical waste handling like
color-coded bags, puncture-proof boxes and protective devices, etc. should be readily available.
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