Features of medical waste management

Abstract

The article argues that all medical waste requires a special approach as experience has shown that many substances used as safe pose a threat to human health and human life and cause irreparable damage to the environment. The expediency of reviewing certain categories of medical waste with their subsequent transfer to the category of household waste (office paper, office furniture, etc.) is specified. The need to pay more attention to waste in the cosmetics and perfume industry is emphasized as more and more pharmaceutical and chemical substances are used in this production. The article detects significant differences in some statistical indicators by year and the combination of medical and non-medical waste in one indicator, which indicates the imperfection of statistical accounting. The adequacy of medical waste management is revealed to depend on the standard of living in the country and the availability of effective public policy in this area, as well as the availability of natural resources in the required amount. The historical retrospective shows the changes in the attitude to disposable and reusable medical materials. The authors propose to use a table comparing the cost of disposal from different points of view, taking into account the necessary sanitary and hygienic requirements. The need to strengthen control over the rational use of disposable medical devices is emphasized, which in some cases makes it possible to significantly reduce the amount of waste and general medical expenses. A comparative analysis of the cost of medical waste disposal in the United States and Ukraine is conducted. The analysis shows that the United States has lower prices. Despite the rather carefully prescribed procedure for obtaining a license for activities in the field of medical waste management, the numerous abuses identified by inspections indicate the need to improve it.