Don’t dump that: An overview of Biomedical waste management in Gujarat

Title: Don’t dump that: An overview of Biomedical waste management in Gujarat
Publication Type: Research Reports
Year of Publication: 2021
Abstract:The study focuses on the on-ground situation of biomedical waste management in the state. The survey conducted across 145 HCFs in the four districts of Gujarat painted a picture which differed greatly from the existing records in various reports.Most of the hospitals do not have an Effluent Treatment Plant to treat liquid biomedical waste.Many hospitals were also not pre-treating their laboratory waste which is required as per the rules. Since, most of the healthcare facilities are operating without adhering to the norms of the BMW, 2016 rules, it raises a question on the quality of monitoring mechanisms being adopted in the state.The findings of the study give a clear illustration that while, there isn’t a lack of infrastructure at most of the places, the shortfalls are mostly management-based. Lack of thorough monitoring, incomplete utilization of the available resources and half-hearted implementation of rules, have led to gross errors which if not rectified may negatively impact the health of not only the healthcare workforce but also may be harmful for the environment.