AWARENESS OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: Generation of biomedical waste is an unavoidable outcome of modern day hospital care. Rapid mushrooming of hospital both in the public and private sector to meet the societal demand has collaterally increased the biomedical waste generated. It is essential to optimally manage the biomedical waste to avoid any public health hazards. Hence this study was undertaken to access the knowledge of biomedical waste management through questionnaire among staff of acute surgical ward and ICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Material and Methods: The study was designed to give an input of knowledge of staff which includes doctors, nurses and class IV employee of the acute surgical ward and ICU based on questionnaire. Results: It was seen nurses had overall excellent knowledge about the biomedical waste management accounting to 57 % among all staff members included in the study; this was followed by doctors accounting to 7 %; whereas none of the class IV employees came in excellent category. Conclusion: Proper management of Bio medical waste is a concern. Lack of sound knowledge about biomedical waste management affects the practice of proper waste disposal and is harmful for general health and environmental condition. Besides continuing medical education and updates, on ground practical training should be provided at regular intervals. Strict monitoring should be ensured right from the site of generation to the final site of disposal of biomedical waste. Keywords: Biomedical waste, Hazards, Tertiary care teaching hospital, Knowledge, Disposal