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Healthcare liquid waste management
D R Sharma1, B Pradhan, R P Pathak
1Department of Public Health, Yeti Health Science Academy, Kathmandu, Nepal. dsharmadr@hotmail.com
Journal of Nepal Health Research Council
|September 1, 2011
Summary
Healthcare liquid waste management in Nepal is inadequate, posing environmental and health risks. Hospitals lack guidelines and treatment, with microbial counts exceeding safe levels, necessitating urgent improvements.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Hospital Waste Management
Background:
- Healthcare liquid waste management is a critical, yet overlooked issue in Nepal.
- Inadequate practices lead to significant environmental pollution and public health concerns.
- This study focused on central hospitals in Kathmandu to assess current waste management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate healthcare liquid waste management practices in Kathmandu-based central hospitals.
- To identify deficiencies in current waste management protocols and infrastructure.
- To provide baseline data for improving waste management in Nepal's healthcare sector.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, prospective study was conducted from May to December 2008.
- Data collection involved interviews, direct observations, and microbiological analysis of wastewater.
- Wastewater specimens were cultured to enumerate total viable bacterial counts.
Main Results:
- No hospitals had established waste management guidelines or dedicated committees.
- Total viable bacterial counts in wastewater significantly exceeded standard limits (p=0.000).
- No significant difference in bacterial counts was observed between hospitals with and without effluent treatment plants (p=0.232).
Conclusions:
- Current healthcare liquid waste management practices in Nepal are unsatisfactory.
- Effective solutions require the installation of effluent treatment plants.
- Development of environmental standards, robust monitoring, and legal enforcement are crucial.
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