Abstract

Usually biomedical waste contains masks, blood samples, syringes, gloves, test materials, etc. which are generated from the hospitals and diagnosis centers during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of humans. In the wake of the COVID -19 pandemic in recent times, the safe disposal of biomedical waste has become more critical. In spite of our country being governed by the Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016, the Central Pollution Control Board made revision to the existing laws which were made compulsory to be followed by quarantine centers, isolation wards, hospitals, laboratories, common biomedical waste treatment facilities, sample collection centers and Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment facilities (CBWTFs). The proper collection, safe handling and final disposal of the biomedical waste has become vital and important to stop the transmission of this deadly virus. In this regard a four months study was conducted in seven hospitals at Bhilwara city, with an objective to access the level of awareness & attitude towards the Biomedical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules 2016 among the doctors, laboratory specialists, nurses & house-keepers; the way the staff is trained to handle this waste, the attitude of healthcare workers towards and to access the safety measure carried by them in the safe disposal of the biomedical waste. In order to gather the information, the study was carried out using the questionnaire method, in-depth interview and the data collected was affirmed by observation method. A total of 175 healthcare respondents from government and private hospitals participated in the poll. The results clearly show that during this pandemic the awareness about biomedical waste management rules was found highest among the doctors and nursing staff. However, the results advise improving bio-medical waste management training for healthcare workers. This work will guide the government to establish appropriate hospital biological waste management methods thus preventing environmental and health threats.

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