Establishing biomedical waste management system in Medical University of India - A successful practical approach

Biomedical waste management (BMWM) has become an important issue as it poses potential health risks and damage to the environment. Biomedical waste (BMW) if not handled in a proper way, is a potent source of diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B & C and other bacterial diseases causing serious threat to human health so prime attention needed for its safe and proper disposal. Bio-medical waste includes all the wastes generated from hospitals, medical centres, healthcare establishment and research facilities in diagnosis, treatment, immunization and associated research. According to CAG (Civic Action Group) report Government of India, 2009 there was poor management, poor awareness and lack of commitment from the top management regarding waste management practices in healthcare establishments. This paper looks upon the aspects and step-by-step approach for establishing BMWM System in tertiary level hospital and planning to make this centre a model to provide hands on training to all State Medical Colleges and other hospitals to help them establish BMWM System.