A Comparative Study of Hospital Waste Management at Public and Private Hospitals of Quetta City, Pakistan

Abstract

Hospital waste has potential to affect the human health, environment, community, animals even a person at home. Both infectious and non-infectious exposure to hospital waste may prove fatal for humanity. Objective of the present study is to evaluate the existing hospital waste management (HWM) practices in different public and private hospitals of Quetta city, Pakistan and comparing it to the hospital waste management rules, 2005. Findings revealed that existing practices are not up to the guidelines at every phase of the hospital waste management, from segregation, collection to final disposal. The study identifies huge gap for improvement especially in private sector hospitals. Awareness raising, appropriate training and skills, stringently following the hospital waste management rules are highly recommended for future betterment.