EVALUATING WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SELECT CORPORATE HOSPITALS AND A WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY IN HYDERABAD: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Healthcare waste also known as hospital waste is the waste generated by healthcare facilities. This can be quite hazardous if not handled properly. This study investigates the waste management practices in two corporate hospitals and a common biomedical waste treatment facility in Hyderabad. This being an observational study, evaluates the compliance rate in these facilities through a checklist. Findings indicate varying levels of compliance across the studied facilities, with one hospital demonstrating high adherence to transportation and storage practices, while the other exhibited significant lapses in waste transportation. The common biomedical waste treatment facility showed good infrastructure and tracking system, however, record keeping needs to be improved. This indicates the need for enhanced training and stricter enforcement of biomedical waste management policies in healthcare facilities.