As the global healthcare system expands, including the increasing success of immunization efforts, this inevitably leads to a growing amount of healthcare waste (HCW). Certain types of HCW can pose significant environmental and public health risks due to its toxic, infectious, and other hazardous properties. It is important to recognize that immunization activities are part of the overall health system, and healthcare waste management (HCWM) must be coordinated across many entities, different departments, and, often, even the private sector.
Looking at various countries around the world, one finds that there are many different types of health systems, thus many different types of waste management systems as well. Thus, HCWM is a system that must be planned and coordinated across multiple stakeholders and programs. Immunization leaders must closely coordinate with the government entities responsible for waste management to best link resources and technologies in ensuring best practices for managing healthcare waste.
This page provides a list of resources related to healthcare waste management, as well as materials developed by local governments, multinational organizations, and the private sector. The aim is to inform and guide constituents in the public and private sector. Additionally, this page sponsors a constructive dialogue on everything from what it takes to design an HCWM plan, to applying best practices between existing HCWM models among countries in different contexts.
Apropos of the multifaceted nature of HCWM, this page’s resources have been organized according to the following categories:
- People
- Process
- Technology
- Project Innovations
- Academic Research
- National Level Policies and Strategies
People
This is a set of resources that supports training and capacity building for health workers involved in HCWM.
Title | Author | Year | Type | Language |
---|---|---|---|---|
Safe Management of Wastes from Health-Care Activities | World Health Organization (WHO) | 2014 | Tool | English |
Training for mid-level managers - Module 3: Immunization Safety | World Health Organization (WHO) | 2008 | Tool | English |
Process
This is a set of resources that is meant to guide countries and organizations designing plans for HCWM.
Technology
This is a set of resources that describes the different technologies currently employed in HCWM.
Title | Author | Year | Type | Language |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overview of technologies for the treatment of infectious and sharp waste from health care facilities | World Health Organization (WHO) | 2019 | Guidance | English |
Compendium of Technologies for Treatment/Destruction of Healthcare Waste | UNEP | 2012 | Report | English |
Decision Maker’s Guides for Solid Waste Management Technologies | World Bank | 2018 | Guidance | English |
How to Organize the Maintenance of Your Healthcare Technology Management Procedures for Health Facilities and District Authorities | World Health Organization (WHO) | 2005 | Guidance | English |
Improving Healthcare Waste Management (across Africa projects) Fact Sheet | Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNDP, World Health Organization (WHO) | Presentation | English | |
Non-Incineration Medical Waste Treatment Technologies | Health Care Without Harm | 2001 | Guidance | English |
Potential Benefits and Risks Associated with Bundled Service Contracts | RAND Corporation | 2001 | Guidance | English |
Project innovations
This is a set of resources that showcases the various and successful innovations for HCWM that countries have designed or implemented.
Academic research
This is a set of resources that provides insight from the academic world as to HCWM.
Title | Author | Year | Type | Language |
---|---|---|---|---|
Healthcare waste management in Nigeria: A case study | Elijah Ige Ohimain, Stephen Obekpa Abah | 2011 | Case study | English |
National level policies and strategies
Title | Author | Year | Type | Language |
---|---|---|---|---|
Health Care Waste Management Standard Operating Procedures (First Edition) | Ministry of Health of Kenya | 2016 | Guidance | English |
Kenya Healthcare Waste Management Strategic Plan 2015-2020 | Ministry of Health of Kenya | 2015 | Guidance | English |
National Healthcare Waste Management Policy | Republic of Nigeria: Ministries of Health and the Environment | 2013 | Guidance | English |
Закон об отходах производства и потребления | Правительство Кыргызской Республики | 2001 | Guidance | Russian |
Санитарно-эпидемиологические правила и нормативы | Правительство Кыргызской Республики | 2016 | Guidance | Russian |