- As of 2016, India was generating about 484 tonnes of bio-medical waste per day, from its 1,60,000 health-care centres. It was estimated that the country would generate 77.5 tonnes of medical waste per day by 2022. A 100-bed hospital generates 100-200 kg of hospital waste every day, according to a study.
- Of the total amount of waste generated by health-care activities, 15% is considered hazardous that may be infectious, toxic or radioactive.
- Segregation, treatment and transportation, depends on the type of bio-medical waste. Incineration, deep burial, local autoclaving, microwaving, chemical disinfection, mutilation and shredding and discharge into the drains, followed by disinfection are some of the ways that medical wastes are managed in India.
- Colour-coded containers are used for disposal of biomedical waste.
- India’s bio-medical waste management is ruled by the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules 2016. According to the rules, blood samples and microbiological waste should be pre-treated on-site before being disposed of. It also planned to introduce a bar-coding system, where all biomedical waste containers or bags are going to be tracked by the government. This is to ensure that the movement from its manufacturing to treatment facilities is monitored.
- Common bio-medical waste treatment facilities (CBWTFs) are involved in managing waste. According to the 2016 rules, a CBWTF within 75 km of a healthcare centre has to ensure that waste is collected routinely and regularly.
- The ruling also extends to vaccination camps, blood donation centres and surgical camps.
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