What is the Biggest Contributor to Healthcare Waste

Sources of healthcare waste can be business establishments, institutions, and healthcare facilities with services and activities that produce medical waste.

These include laboratories and research facilities, mortuary centers, drug manufacturers, tattoo parlors, and cosmetics piercing salons. Even home health treatments for dialysis and insulin injection can also generate several infectious and pathological wastes that can be dangerous to any susceptible host.

However, hospitals and healthcare facilities are found to generate the most amount of medical waste.

Healthcare waste from hospitals is becoming one of the biggest concerns in the healthcare industry, especially in countries with low hygiene and unestablished waste management systems.

Diagnosis and treatment in hospitals produce various wastes that are hazardous to people and the environment. Mishandling of infectious waste, sharps, and toxic substances can be a potential cause of epidemic outbreaks.

Although only a small percentage of the total waste produced by hospitals is considered toxic, one cannot be oblivious to the potential risk it poses to the people who are at risk of exposure.

Aside from a threat to the community’s overall health, the main group of people who are at risk are the hospital staff and personnel.

Hospitals in general are required to create policies and procedures and set up a system in place to ensure safety in handling and waste disposal.

The main purpose of hospitals and healthcare facilities is to protect and save lives. However, we cannot turn a blind eye to the by-products and waste generated by these institutions.

That is why effective healthcare waste management is of utmost importance. WHO is urging hospitals and healthcare facilities to a more sustainable and effective healthcare waste management system through education and awareness. 

Appropriate policies and regulations, waste minimization, and proper handling, storage, and disposal should be strictly imposed.