A STUDY ON QUANTUM OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE GENERATED IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL OF SOUTH INDIA

Introduction: Management of biomedical waste (BMW) has become a very serious health problem in developing countries. Every day, in the health care hospitals and in various facilities large amount of hazardous and potentially infectious wastes is generated. Inappropriate waste management and chaotic disposal of biomedical waste that occur in hospital cause various types of health effect on society. Objectives: To estimate the quantity of BMW generated by various departments of a hospital and to determine their compliance with BMW norms. Materials and methods: With regards to quantum of BMW generated a retrospective study was conducted for a period of 3 years from January 2019 to December 2021, and with regards to compliance of bio-medical waste management an observational study was conducted for a period of 3 months from July 2021 to September 2021. Selected areas of hospital were included in the study. Area wise waste collected, segregated and disposed off was observed and recorded on checklist designed on existing BMW management rules 2016. Results: The quantum of BMW generated during 3 years is in 20-19-106563 kg/year, 2020-98353 kg/year, and 2021-75951 kg/year. Yellow waste constituted the maximum of all during all 3 years(52%). Overall compliance with BMW rules 2016 was 85%. Conclusions: The quantum of biomedical waste generated is high as per permitted norms by local regulatory body. All the concerned staff should be frequently trained in this regard to avoid excess wastage, in order to bring down biomedical waste generated.