Practices and challenges of infectious waste management: A qualitative descriptive study from tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Infectious waste management practices among health care workers in the tertiary care hospitals have been questionable. The study intended to identify issues that impede a proper infectious waste management. METHODS: Besides direct observation, in-depths interviews were conducted with the hospital administrators and senior management involved in healthcare waste management during March 2014. We looked at the processes related to segregation, collection, storage and disposal of hospital waste, and identified variety of issues in all the steps. RESULTS: Serious gaps and deficiencies were observed related to segregation, collection, storage and disposal of the hospital wastes, hence proving to be hazardous to the patients as well as the visitors. Poor safety, insufficient budget, lack of trainings, weak monitoring and supervision, and poor coordination has eventually resulted in improper waste management in the tertiary hospitals of Rawalpindi. CONCLUSION: Study has concluded that the poor resources and lack of healthcare worker’s training in infectious waste results in poor waste management at hospitals.