Biomedical Waste Management: An Infrastructural case study of Kolkata based Hospitals

Abstract

Bio-Medical waste (BMW) is generated at various places viz., hospitals, nursing homes, maternity homes, basic level health care centres, immunization centres, diagnostic centres, blood banks, health camps, blood donation camps, institution laboratories, doctors’ chambers, pharmacies and even households. All these sources come under the purview of Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998. However the present study did not have the scope to assess BMW generation from all these sources. The study mainly concentrated on health care units (HCUs) like hospitals, nursing homes, maternity homes, basic level health care centers, immunization centers, diagnostic centers etc. Health camps, blood banks, blood donation camps, laboratories attached to institutions, doctor’s chambers, pharmacies and households have been excluded from the purview of this study. The most important task of the present study has been an assessment of the amount of BMW generated in the above mentioned categories of HCUs in Kolkata. The foremost step for the assessment of Bio-Medical Waste generated essentially calls for preparation of an inventory of the HCUs under study by CATEGORY.