Facilitating Sustainable Waste
Management Strategies Within
the Hospital—An Explorative Study
Rama Mohan Desu, Satish Kumar Saginela and Gowtham Ram
Abstract Background The waste management strategies should include reduce,
reuse and recycle. The studies indicate that by 2040, most of the cities cannot cope
up with the solid waste which adversely affects the health of the people. 75–85% of
health-care waste is domestic waste and the rest is hazardous. The strategies should
focus on conversion to power/energy, biogas and manure for agriculture. Aim is to
evaluate feasibility of sustainable waste management strategies within the hospital.
Objectives include (1) audit of availability of infrastructure, (2) knowledge and practice of waste management and (3) feasibility of 3 Rs concept in the hospital among
various categories of the hospital. Methods (1) Prospective study of the infrastructure of the waste management through checklist (n = 79). (2) Questionnaire study
to evaluate the knowledge and practice among staff (n = 100). (3) Semi-structured
interviews with medical and other staff keeping in view of awareness and feasibility of 3 Rs concept (n = 100). Results Compliance to availability of colored bins
is 100%, same-colored bags 98.40%. Biohazard symbol and Colour code posters
are available at 100% of the areas of the sample. Segregation 86.08%. Recapping
of needles (22%), plastics cut (70%) of the areas in the hospital. The knowledge
(81.40%) and practice (75.58%) among staff nurses and housekeeping and in Doctors (97.36% and 76.30%) 66.66% of staff and 90% of Doctors opined 3 Rs concept
is feasible and applies to solids and liquids. Recommendations The health-care staff
having infrastructure, knowledge and practicing waste management within the hospital needs awareness and implementation of sustainable strategies. The attitude
and behavior change in the organizations through Goal setting, constant training,
legislation, technology, teamwork and support from all stake holders.
Keywords Health-care waste · Practice · Strategies · Concepts · Behavior
R. M. Desu (B) · S. K. Saginela
Narayana Medical College & Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
e-mail: drdramamohan@narayanamedicalcollege.com
G. Ram
Department of Hospital Administration, NMCH, Nellore, India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. K. Ghosh (ed.), Solid Waste Policies and Strategies: Issues, Challenges
and Case Studies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1543-9_6
57
Management Strategies Within
the Hospital—An Explorative Study
Rama Mohan Desu, Satish Kumar Saginela and Gowtham Ram
Abstract Background The waste management strategies should include reduce,
reuse and recycle. The studies indicate that by 2040, most of the cities cannot cope
up with the solid waste which adversely affects the health of the people. 75–85% of
health-care waste is domestic waste and the rest is hazardous. The strategies should
focus on conversion to power/energy, biogas and manure for agriculture. Aim is to
evaluate feasibility of sustainable waste management strategies within the hospital.
Objectives include (1) audit of availability of infrastructure, (2) knowledge and practice of waste management and (3) feasibility of 3 Rs concept in the hospital among
various categories of the hospital. Methods (1) Prospective study of the infrastructure of the waste management through checklist (n = 79). (2) Questionnaire study
to evaluate the knowledge and practice among staff (n = 100). (3) Semi-structured
interviews with medical and other staff keeping in view of awareness and feasibility of 3 Rs concept (n = 100). Results Compliance to availability of colored bins
is 100%, same-colored bags 98.40%. Biohazard symbol and Colour code posters
are available at 100% of the areas of the sample. Segregation 86.08%. Recapping
of needles (22%), plastics cut (70%) of the areas in the hospital. The knowledge
(81.40%) and practice (75.58%) among staff nurses and housekeeping and in Doctors (97.36% and 76.30%) 66.66% of staff and 90% of Doctors opined 3 Rs concept
is feasible and applies to solids and liquids. Recommendations The health-care staff
having infrastructure, knowledge and practicing waste management within the hospital needs awareness and implementation of sustainable strategies. The attitude
and behavior change in the organizations through Goal setting, constant training,
legislation, technology, teamwork and support from all stake holders.
Keywords Health-care waste · Practice · Strategies · Concepts · Behavior
R. M. Desu (B) · S. K. Saginela
Narayana Medical College & Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
e-mail: drdramamohan@narayanamedicalcollege.com
G. Ram
Department of Hospital Administration, NMCH, Nellore, India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. K. Ghosh (ed.), Solid Waste Policies and Strategies: Issues, Challenges
and Case Studies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1543-9_6
57