National Health Care Waste Management Policy

Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) is an integral part of a health system ensuring the safety and health of the patients, health workers and the community. Improper management and disposal of healthcare wastes from the healthcare institutions (big or small, private or public) pose life threatening risks both within the facility and in the environment.

Healthcare waste (HCW) is a by-product of the healthcare services, that includes hazardous waste namely infectious waste, sharps, pathological waste like body parts, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and radioactive materials. WHO estimates that about 15% of the waste produced by healthcare is regarded as “hazardous” and can pose a number of health and environmental risks. Poor management of healthcare waste exposes healthcare workers, waste handlers and the community to infections, toxic effects and injuries. There is also a potential for spreading drug-resistant microorganisms from health- care facilities into the environment through poor health-care waste management.