Historical Background:
- HIV Epidemic in 1983 and “Syringe Tide” in 1987 emphasized the dangers of careless biomedical waste disposal.
- The first case of HIV in India in 1986 and the absence of biomedical waste legislation exposed gaps in waste management.
Global and National Responses:
- USA: Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 categorized waste from hospitals as hazardous and obliged them to follow systematic guidelines for handling and disposal.
- India: Supreme Court in Dr. B.L. Wadehra vs. Union of India (1996) condemned the waste management system of Delhi, which prompted a national response.
- Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 declared biomedical waste as hazardous and empowered the pollution control boards.
Important Features of Biomedical Waste Management in India:
- Segregation of waste with color-coding is compulsory.
- Treatment of waste by incineration, autoclaving, microwaving, chemical disinfection, and deep burial.
- Safety in the workplace for the healthcare worker, provision of PPE, regular training programmes, and immunization against Hepatitis B.
- Mechanisms for monitoring and compliance, mandatory reporting and record-keeping, and common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) established.
Gaps in Biomedical Waste Management in India:
- Inadequate infrastructure, weak enforcement and compliance, occupational hazards, low public awareness, and ineffectiveness in common treatment facilities.
Way Ahead:
- Strengthen infrastructure in rural areas; implement real-time tracking systems, improve capacity building and occupational safety, encourage technological innovation, and public awareness and community participation.
