Developing an effectiveness index for biomedical waste management in Indian states using a composite indicators...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Waste Management

Background:

• Healthcare facilities generate biomedical waste, posing significant environmental and health risks.
• Effective biomedical waste management is crucial and varies based on state policies and infrastructure.
• Performance assessment is vital for informing decision-makers on improving waste disposal strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an effectiveness index for assessing biomedical waste management performance across Indian states.
• To provide a framework for comparing management practices and identifying areas for improvement.
• To guide state pollution control boards in prioritizing capacity building and waste prevention.

Main Methods:

• A conceptual framework integrating technical, managerial, and sustainability dimensions was designed.
• Sub-indicators for waste management practices were analyzed using proportionate normalization.
• The entropy method and additive aggregation were employed to calculate state-specific indices.
• Sensitivity and cluster analyses were performed for model validation.

Main Results:

• An effectiveness index was developed to compare biomedical waste management performance among Indian states.
• States were categorized into red, yellow, and green zones based on their index values, highlighting performance disparities.
• The analysis identified critical areas needing attention for effective waste management.

Conclusions:

• The developed index offers a robust tool for evaluating and comparing state-level biomedical waste management.
• The categorization provides clear insights into the urgency and nature of interventions required for different states.
• The findings support targeted interventions, focusing on capacity building and advanced waste prevention technologies.