Biomedical waste generation in Puducherry Government General Hospital and its management implications

In India, not much attention has been paid to the management of biomedical waste (BMW). The present paper describes the collection and disposal of BMW in the Government General Hospital (GH) of Puducherry, India. The authors document (a) the lack of segregation between infections and noninfectious BMW as well as a failure to implement the prescribed rules for proper management of BMW; (b) improper treatment and transportation and the final disposal of BMW along with municipal garbage; and (c) an inadequate training of personnel, insufficient personal protective equipment, and a lack of knowledge regarding the proper use of such equipment. The authors recommend the establishment of standards and periodic monitoring along with effective training of personnel.