From policy table to bin-side: an urgent need to address bio-medical waste management in India

This paper attempts to document the status of Bio-medical Waste Management (BMWM) practices in different healthcare facilities in India and compare that with standard recommendations for Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998. Bio-medical waste management practices at King George's Medical University (KGMU), a 100 year-old, approximately 3000 bedded, tertiary care institute are described, as a concerted effort has been made over the preceding two years to streamline these practices as part of a special GEFUNDP/MoEF project. Proper handling and disposal of bio-medical waste entails the sequential steps of handling, segregation at point of generation, storage, disinfection, mutilation, transportation and disposal. The ultimate objective of the bio-medical waste management is to prevent the transmission of infections to healthcare personnel, patient and attendants and the community at large.