Bio –Medical Waste Management Study

Scientific disposal of Biomedical Waste through segregation, collection and treatment in an environmentally sound manner minimizes the adverse impact on health workers and on the environment. The hospitals are required to put in place the mechanisms for effective disposal either directly or through common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facilities. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are now required to adhere to the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Government of India.

The proper management of Hospital/Healthcare/Bio-medical waste has become the topic of enormous concern having waste is a potential health hazard to health workers, public, flora and fauna of the areas. The COVID Pandemic has brought to fore the need for adherence to prescribed bio-medical waste management practices.In the Year 2020-2021, Covid-19 presented myriad challenges to the day-to-day functioning of such organizations as exponential rise in bio- medical waste and lockdown related challenges to surveillance.

ICRO mandated to take up study in bio-medical waste management in publicly funded or in charitable hospitals with a focus on efficiency improvement. The studies are undertaken with the concurrence of the competent authority and are fully funded by ICRO.

The objective of the study was to strengthen bio-medical waste management (BMWM) practices and conduct capacity building programme for hospital staff regarding the requirements as per the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and its subsequent amendments.