Management of Hospital Solid Wastes: A study in Pokhara Sub- Metropolitan City

Abstract

Introduction: Hospital waste can be defined as the total waste stream that is generated from health care establishments. Health care wastes usually consist of sharps, human or animal tissues or body parts, their body fluids and other infectious materials produced during the course of treatment.

Methods: For the purpose of the study, population was defined in terms of the medical hospital, having inpatient facilities located within Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City (PSMC). The total numbers of health care institutions (HCIs), having inpatient facilities, were 14 and all were sampled for the study. Questionnaires were prepared to meet the objectives of the study.

Results: Various categories of health care waste have been generated in the health care institutions of PSMC which depend on size of individual health care facility, types of medical specialties practiced, and nature of HCIs. Waste generated from health care activities have been categorized as general or non-hazardous waste, and hazardous waste and are separately segregated into 4 different categories, like general waste, infectious wastes, sharps, and saline bottles.

Conclusion: Most health care institutions in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City depend upon the municipality services for the disposal of health care waste materials collected. The municipality disposed the waste without any segregation and treatment in the sanitary land fill site treating them as a municipal solid waste. There is no separate mechanism for the proper treatment of medical wastes. There should be integrated waste management system and centralized waste management system managed by the municipality under health care waste management act to solve the gravity of problems. If it is not improved the problem of serious environmental health problem will arise in future thus an appropriate management of hospital solid waste should be undertaken.