Medical waste management practices in a Southern African hospital-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Medical waste management practices in a Southern African hospital

Published:2008-06-13 Issue:4 Volume:21 Page:356-364
ISSN:0952-6862
Container-title:International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
language:en
Short-container-title:

Author:

Aseweh Abor Patience,Bouwer Anton

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the medical waste management practices of a hospital in Southern Africa.Design/methodology/approachA case study methodology was utilised.FindingsThe results revealed that the hospital does not quantify medical waste. Segregation of medical waste into infectious waste and non‐infectious waste is not conducted according to definite rules and standards. Separation of medical waste and municipal waste is however practiced to a satisfactory extent. Wheeled trolleys are used for on‐site transportation of waste. Off‐site transportation of waste is outsourced to a private firm. Incineration is used in the final disposal of infectious waste. Non‐infectious waste is disposed using land disposal method. There is no policy and plan in place for managing medical waste. A number of problems were identified with respect to medical waste management.Originality/valueThe paper gives recommendations with the aim of improving medical waste management in hospitals.

Publisher

Emerald

Subject

Health Policy,General Business, Management and Accounting

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