Management of healthcare waste collection and segregation for developing countries

Abstract

Healthcare waste (HCW) consists of hazardous material that may be radioactive, toxic or infectious. Inappropriate treatment and disposal of HCW may pose health risks to humans indirectly through the release of pathogens and toxic pollutants into the environment. The biggest problem in HCW management is its handling, which causes anxiety over sorting and categorizing the waste. Hence, the current study identifies and addresses the challenges towards sustainable environmental development by managing infectious HCW in developing countries. Fuzzy Delphi method is used in the present study to carefully examine the barrier drawn from the literature and experts’ opinions. The number of barriers taken into consideration for study are 30, which are then grouped into four main categories, that is, social, environmental, technological and economic barriers. Additionally, a hybrid strategy based on the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory is developed in this work to examine the significance and interrelationships of the identified barrier. The research outcome is a hierarchy and classification model based on the relative importance of the barriers. The results of this study indicate that: ‘Lack of segregation’, ‘Inconsistency in waste collection’, ‘Unregulated disposal site’ and ‘Inadequate programme for training and awareness’ require quick action. The conclusions obtained through the study would facilitate the preparation of check sheets for documenting HCW management procedures by the healthcare administration and Pollution Control Boards. Understanding the priority cause-group barrier would improve the long-term protection of the hospital environment from the spread of infection caused by the HCW.