Implementaion of Waste Management in Health Care

Abstract

Health care service is now became a basic need for people irrespective of their age, gender and culture due to increasing pollution levels and changing lifestyles associated with rapid civilization. Health care units (HCUs) generate huge amount of waste, while rendering health care service to mankind. The management of health care waste is of great importance due to its infectious and hazardous nature that can cause undesirable effects on human health and the environment. Attempts at various levels have been made and are going on, to develop efficient waste management techniques to reduce their adverse impact. Despite of the several efforts made by governments, environmental regulatory agencies and waste generators for better management of the waste from healthcare facilities significant improvement in health care waste management practices in Indian health care facilities are not observed. Hence an understanding of the factors influencing successful waste management in these health care units is required. Exploration of these factors, their interdependence and their degree of impact either positive or negative will help the decision makers to formulate suitable strategies to better manage these factors and enhance their performance in waste management.

Keywords: Health Care Waste (HCW), Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM), Challenges and Enablers to Waste Management, Health Care Unit (HCU)

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