Regional Project
Healthcare Waste
Healthcare Waste Management
Healthcare Waste Management
Health-care waste includes all the waste generated by health-care establishments, research facilities, and laboratories. In addition, it includes the waste originating from “minor” or “scattered” sources—such as that produced during health care undertaken in the home (dialysis, insulin injections, etc.). Healthcare waste management (HCWM) is a process that ensures proper handling and disposal of the HCW in a safe way. HCWM includes all the steps necessary for waste management from planning to disposal.
Project Description
In addressing HCWM issues in project countries under the previous PacWaste program, healthcare waste management training was delivered in select hospitals, and health care waste incinerators were procured for several countries. This project will assist countries to treat healthcare wastes efficiently and sustainably through health care waste management capacity building, i.e., training, adoptions of HCWM strategies, etc., and thorough repair and maintenance of incinerators previously commissioned in Pacific Island Countries.
What will this project do?
The regional health care waste project will:
- Refine, Update, and Develop Regional Healthcare waste training [storage, treatment, and disposal solutions for healthcare waste]
- Undertake an assessment of the impact of the PacWaste Project healthcare waste activities
- Repair selected healthcare waste Incinerators in the region.
- Work with development partners to implement a long-term plan for the sustainability of health care waste infrastructure throughout the region
Latest news & updates
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Project resources
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Research Report
Technology Options: Safe Destruction of Healthcare Waste Other Than Traditional, High Temperature
This report seeks to assist Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor-Leste to select alternative technologies for the treatment of healthcare waste other than traditional incineration or landfilling.
Booklet
Personal Protective Equipment: Guidance for Waste Management Workers in Pacific Island Countries
The information presented in this publication summarizes international best practices. In case of a conflict in interpretation, the country's actual policies and regulations in which PPE is to be worn should apply.
Factsheet
Medical Waste Alert: How to Manage COVID-19 Healthcare Waste
COVID-19 has swept through the world in a very short period, causing widespread concern for many countries. The surprise global effect of COVID-19 has caused a shortage in certain supplies, such as gloves, gowns, and masks. Fortunately, COVID-19 infection has largely been contained and impacts have been minimal on Pacific Island communities. Large volumes of solid waste, such as personal protective equipment, are being generated in response to the pandemic. In contrast to previous epidemics (e.g. the Ebola crisis of 2014-2016), patients do not produce large quantities of biohazard or pathological waste. If there is a silver lining to be observed in this pandemic, this is certainly it. This medical waste alert provides useful information on how to Manage COVID-19 Healthcare Waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- The absence of proper health care waste management puts human health at risk.
- Significant improvements can however be achieved by promoting proper healthcare waste management options that include national and local, hospital-level healthcare waste management plans and policies.
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1.Literature review and options assessment to determine if other technologies, besides incineration, can and should be utilized for healthcare waste volume reduction and treatment.
2.Deliver a series of train the trainer sessions following up on the PacWaste work on healthcare waste handling, storage, and disposal.