Assessing Healthcare Waste Management Scenario in Sylhet City: A Comparative Study of Government and Non-government Establishments

Abstract Healthcare waste contains hazardous contaminants which may be responsible for dreadful diseases. Due to inadequate waste management practices, healthcare waste presents a high risk for the physician, nurses, technicians, sweepers, patients, and visitors. It poses serious threats to human health and our surrounding environment. For health safety, it requires specific treatment and better management from the source of generation to the final disposal. For this reason, this study was carried out to assess the present management system of hospital waste from the point of generation to the final disposal in different healthcare establishments (HCEs) of the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) area. In addition, it was aimed to compare the rate of waste produced in different private and public HCEs. Regarding this, the study included empirical field observation and field level primary data collection by using a questionnaire survey, and formal and informal interviews. It was found that all the HCEs do not follow the environmental safety rules. There is a lack of a dedicated waste management system at all levels of the HCEs. Also, statistical analysis showed the comparison of hazardous and non-hazardous waste production in different HCEs. It was observed that private HCEs are comparatively well in the management system than in government HCEs. Finally, a better management technique was suggested for developing a hospital waste management system in all HCEs in Sylhet City Corporation.