Maintaining high standards of sanitation in a clinical setup is of course the golden criteria to a healthy clinic space.
But the measures are quick commonly skipped and disposables are tossed left right into trash.
India alone produces 700 Tonnes of Biomedical waste EVERYDAY.
60 Tonnes of this is not disposed properly.
During the covid period, the biomedical waste generated went from 510 tonnes to a whopping 800 tonnes.
India has 218 operational treatment facilities and still finds it next to impossible to deal with the waste generated from 3,93,000 healthcare facilities.
Well, I’m not surprised about this.
What shocked me was, 85% of the waste is incapable of being treated because of poor segregation.
What needs to be done?
Expanding the treatment infrastructure
Strengthening compliance every possible place
Training the healthcare staff
Enforcing the transparency on the violations.
What are some more ideas that can help change this statistic??
What can be done to ensure the staff has been sufficiently trained in this aspect?
Training the workers of the hospital about proper disposal
And even the laymen so that when they generate medical waste at home they should dispose it off at a nearest hospital in proper bins
To ensure healthcare staff are sufficiently trained in biomedical waste segregation, hospitals should implement mandatory annual training, use visual aids and color-coded bins, conduct surprise audits, and offer certification programs tied to performance incentives. Regular refresher courses and hands-on workshops can make the learning stick.
Many hospitals have colored bins and posters for waste disposal, but they often only display them for inspection purposes. This indicates a lack of genuine commitment to proper practices.
Honestly, this is something we usually ignore but it’s a serious issue. Proper training is not just about giving a one-time session staff need to actually understand why segregation is important. They should know what goes where and the impact of doing it wrong. Even small mistakes can lead to big health and environmental risks. Regular checks, reminders, and making sure everyone from doctors to cleaning staff follows it properly can really make a difference. Awareness is the first step to change.
•Biomedical waste knowledge is critical. It’s not just about hospital hygiene , it’s about safety, infection control, and responsibility. I believe every student should be trained on it practically, not just theoretically.
Proper management of biomedical waste is crucial for preventing infection and maintaining hygiene. Its essential to raise awareness about this among everyone. Training staff and establish guideline can ensure effective management.
