Biomedical waste management practices at a paediatric tertiary care hospital of Kashmir valley

Introduction: In healthcare settings, where patient care is carried out, a certain type of waste is generated which has the potential to put humans and environment to the risk of infectious diseases and environmental pollution respectively. Objectives: The present study has been embraced to survey the information regarding Bio-Medical waste among the staff a tertiary care paediatric hospital in Kashmir valley (J&K). Materials and Methods: Paediatric hospital associated with GMC Srinagar was visited by a team of public health specialists. A total of 25 interviews were conducted in which five doctors, five staff nurses, five pharmacists, five laboratory technicians and five sanitary personnel participated. The data was acquired from the respondents through a pre-outlined pre-tested survey questionnaire with respect to Biomedical Waste Management and Handling guideline 2016. Results: The awareness and knowledge about current BMW guidelines 2016 was highest among Laboratory technicians and sanitary personals. The sanitary personals had also better awareness about existing operational guidelines in the hospital and proper waste disposal methods. Conclusion: The sanitary personals and laboratory technicians were seen to be great in theoretical knowledge of rules, legislations and public health importance of BMW management rules 2016. While for doctors and nursing staff, the reverse was true.