Identifying Critical Success Factors to Adopt Circular Economy in Healthcare Sector for Sustainable Waste Management

Abstract

Abstract The rapid growth of healthcare sector especially after Covid-19 pandemic has augmented the emission of healthcare waste (HW) globally. It is a major concern for developing countries like India rather developed. Thus, this study has recognized, estimated the importance, prioritized the criticality of critical success factors (CSFs) for the adoption of circular economy (CE) in HW management (called as healthcare circular economy i.e., ‘HCE’) to minimise the HW generation in Indian perspective. Initially, descriptive statistics followed by questionnaire surveys is accomplished for data analysis based on the organization’s size and domain of expertise. Then, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) is executed to identify the substantial differences in the adoption of HCE having different sizes or domains of expertise. Finally, the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) embedded fuzzy-decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (F-DEMATEL) method is used to identify the most significant CSFs for adoption of HCE. Among 17 finalised CSFs, 12 CSFs are identified in a causal group, while rest 5 is in effect group. The government responsibility and stakeholders’ participations are having highest driving potential, whereas the segregation and collection of HW is highly dependent on other causal-CSFs. This is an original and unique study of its kind to recognize and evaluate the CSFs for the adoption of HCE in general and India in specific. This study also shows the suitable extents for assigning the resources and efforts to enhance the adoption of HCE in Indian perspective. However, the results obtained are India specific, but this can be a platform to understand and analyse CSFs for adoption of HCE for other developing economies. This study will also help to Indian policymakers to develop the strategies for adoption of HCE practices.