Overview of biomedical waste management in selected Governorates in Egypt: A pilot study

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 1920 - 1923
• Main Authors: Mohamed Soliman, Sahar, Ibrahim Ahmed, Amel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2007; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Egypt; Exact sciences and technology; General treatment and storage processes; Hospitals; Humans; Medical Waste; Medical Waste Disposal - standards; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pilot Projects; Pollution; Public Policy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Waste Management - standards; Wastes; Egypt; Egypt, Arab Rep; Waste management; Hospital; Waste disposal; Public health
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2006.08.009

Inadequate management of biomedical waste can be associated with risks to healthcare workers, patients, communities and their environment. This study was conducted to assess the handling and treatment of biomedical waste in different healthcare settings in Egypt. Five hospitals and ten primary healthcare settings were surveyed using a modified survey questionnaire for waste management. This questionnaire was obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO), with the aim of assessing the processing systems for biomedical waste disposal. Researchers found that biomedical waste is inadequately processed in hospitals and primary healthcare settings due to the absence of written policies and protocols. Accordingly, healthcare staff, patients, the community and the environment may be negatively affected by exposure to the hazards of biomedical waste. The development of waste management policies, plans, and protocols are strongly recommended, in addition to establishing training programs on proper waste management for all healthcare workers.