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Reviewing Clinical Waste Management Under The Legislative Framework In Pakistan: Practices And Challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Um e Hani

    (Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan)

  • Ilyas Hussain Sarfaraz

    (The University of Haripur, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)

Abstract

The waste generated at healthcare facilities has two distinct categories: hazardous and non-hazardous waste. 10- 15% of the total waste generated at hospitals is hazardous which is termed as clinical waste. This review article has reported and reviewed the practices of clinical waste management in Pakistan’s major cities. Researches demonstrated that about 1.35 Kg / bed waste has been produced by the tertiary health care facilities in Pakistan. Studies for review process are selected through an iterative process. More than 100 research articles, National legislations, international protocols and newspaper reports are consulted and reviewed to extract the data of interest. Clinical waste management in Pakistan is the responsibility of the individual health care facility producing it under Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005. Due to lack of proper checks and weak implementation of legislations many gaps have been identified in this review article like lack of segregation, inappropriate vehicles for transportation, poor storage and no advanced pollution control treatment strategies. Most of the hospitals lack documented waste management plan. Staff was mostly untrained and under educated. International standards for safe hazardous waste disposal are not being followed resulting in spread of diseases like hepatitis and AIDS. Cases of poor recycling and reuse of used clinical instruments is also documented. However, the condition is much satisfactory in big cities. There is an understanding to focus on the proper implementation of clinical waste management rules with strict checks. Establishment of incineration facility at major hospitals with proper maintenance, safe transportation to secure landfills and utilization of proper SOPs are suggested improvements towards safe management of clinical waste.

Suggested Citation

  • Um e Hani & Ilyas Hussain Sarfaraz, 2021. "Reviewing Clinical Waste Management Under The Legislative Framework In Pakistan: Practices And Challenges," Journal of Wastes and Biomass Management (JWBM), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 3(2), pages 69-76, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:zib:zbjwbm:v:3:y:2021:i:2:p:69-76
    DOI: 10.26480/jwbm.02.2021.69.76
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Syed Shahzaib Ali & Nimrah Ijaz & Nafeesa Aman & Dr. Abdul Nasir & Dr. Lubna Anjum & Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Randhawa, 2017. "Clinical waste management practices in district faisalabad," Earth Sciences Pakistan (ESP), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 1(2), pages 4-6, January.
    2. Beenish Malik & Novel Lyndon & Yew Wong Chin, 2020. "Health Status and Illness Experiences of Refugee Scavengers in Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440209, March.
    3. E. Ezeoke Uchechukwu & I. Babatunde & C. Ndu Anne, 2017. "Investigating Knowledge, Attitude and Health Care Waste Management by Health Workers in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(4), pages 222-222, April.
    4. Riaz Ahmad & Gengyuan Liu & Remo Santagata & Marco Casazza & Jingyan Xue & Kifayatullah Khan & Javed Nawab & Sergio Ulgiati & Massimiliano Lega, 2019. "LCA of Hospital Solid Waste Treatment Alternatives in a Developing Country: The Case of District Swat, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, June.
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