Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: December | Volume: 8 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 116-120
Healthcare Waste Management Practices: A Case of Chennai, India
Dr. P. Praveen Kumar1, Ms. Farhanaaz. C2
1Asst. Professor, Saveetha School of Management, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai - 77.
2Student, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai - 77.
Corresponding Author: Dr. P. Praveen Kumar
ABSTRACT
Healthcare industry is one of the budding sectors in developing countries like India. Waste disposal is the leading impediment which is encountered in hospitals. Wastes in the hospitals can be pigeonholed into two cluster; general and hazardous wastes. General wastes are those which are of minor risk and are non-contaminated, it includes wastes like office waste and kitchen waste. Wastes that seize greater risk and are easily contaminated are considered as hazardous wastes, it includes wastes like needles, scalpels, radioactive wastes, human fluids, excreta, expired drugs or vaccines, lab cultures, disinfectants and mercury wastes. Blood-borne pathogens like HIV, Hepatitis B and C may perhaps effortlessly get transmitted through skin; henceforth it is obligatory to train and make available proper equipment’s to the workers. This literature tries to investigate the perception of health care professionals on waste management practices. Study reveals that hospitals provide proper training on collection of waste, specific route and spot is available for transportation and disposal of waste.
Key words: Healthcare waste management, hazardous wastes, waste disposal.