A STUDY ON HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN HEALTH FACILITIES AT JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN

Objectives: Purpose of study was to highlight certain aspects of hospital waste management status in health facilities providing health care in an urban area. This study is focused on awareness of health facilities about Central Pollution Control Board rules, hospital waste management training status, maintenance of records and accident reporting system and proper disposal of hospital waste. The importance of this study is to create the necessary awareness to the Government, Charitable, and Private Hospitals/Clinics/Diagnostic centers staff of Jaipur, regarding the health risk of hospital waste. Methods: All the health facilities registered with Chief medical officer of urban Jaipur are included in the study. Results: It was observed that of the 19 health care facilities under study, only 52.63% health care facilities were registered with State Pollution Board for biomedical waste management. It was observed that only 68.42% study units were aware of existence of Central Pollution Control Board Rules on Biomedical Waste Management. Only 36.84% of the health care facilities had trained staff; 47.36% of all health care facilities were maintaining records; none of the facilities had any type of accident reporting system. Hospital waste segregation and utilization of offsite treatment facilities is happening in only two-third of health facilities (among qualified practitioners), which is grossly inadequate. Conclusion: Hospital waste management issues remain a challenge yet to be addressed as the present study reveals gross inadequacies in most of the health facilities of the study area.