Authors: Taihba Aslam Qureshi, Dr. Vidya Sharan Daynee
Abstract: Biomedical waste management has emerged as a critical component of healthcare administration due to its direct implications on public health, occupational safety, and environmental sustainability. Hospitals, while serving as centers for diagnosis and treatment, generate a significant amount of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. This includes infectious materials, sharps, pharmaceutical waste, and chemical substances, which, if not properly managed, can lead to severe health risks such as the transmission of infectious diseases and environmental degradation. The study titled “A Study of Medical Waste Management at Fortis Hospital, Greater Noida” is designed to analyse and assess the biomedical waste management practices followed in a large private hospital setting. It examines how effectively waste is segregated, collected, transported, treated, and disposed of, while also evaluating the awareness and participation of healthcare staff in these processes. This research holds particular importance in the Indian healthcare sector, where the rapid expansion of medical facilities has led to a significant rise in biomedical waste generation. As a result, strict compliance with regulatory guidelines, such as the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, has become essential. The research adopts a descriptive research design, combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches to ensure a comprehensive analysis. Primary data has been collected through structured questionnaires and informal discussions with hospital staff, including nurses, sanitation workers, and administrative personnel. Secondary data has been gathered from government reports, regulatory guidelines, and scholarly literature to provide theoretical support and contextual understanding.2 The sampling method used is convenience sampling, and the study is based on responses collected from a selected group of healthcare workers. The findings of the study indicate that Fortis Hospital, Greater Noida, has implemented a structured biomedical waste management system, including the use of color-coded bins, standardized segregation practices, and approved disposal methods such as incineration and autoclaving. A majority of the staff demonstrates a reasonable level of awareness regarding waste management practices. However, the study also identifies certain gaps, including inconsistent segregation practices, incomplete training among staff, and partial compliance with regulatory guidelines. These issues highlight the existence of a gap between policy and practical implementation.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19827209
