Sustainable Approaches to Medical Waste Management for Better Public Health Outcomes
Abstract
Purpose: Medical waste disposal has become a significant issue worldwide, driven by public health concern, environmental safety and healthcare continuum. This work investigates sustainable management of infectious waste by examining technologies, governance models and stakeholder perceptions in different country context and opportunities for its circular economy. Methodology/approach: This research applied the mixed methods to analyses sustainable medical waste management practices and its health impacts. Results/findings: Results show that more advanced non-burn techniques, autoclaving and microwaving, are prevalent in high income countries and result in relatively good concomitant compliance of low emissions at the three cost types. Methods including incineration, open burning and burials are employed in middle and low-income countries that provide poor infection control with high degree of threats to the environment and public health. Comparisons between subsystem circularities, autoclaving, chemical disinfection and the rate of reuse are also discovered to be more effective in terms of reducing infection risk during health crises as well as environmental impact. Lack of enforcement, inadequate training and financial limitations still remain the major deficiencies in most parts. The necessity to incorporate non-burn technologies and strengthen governance and enforcement, incentivize circular economy innovations, establish surge capacity for future crises. Limitations: The findings are constrained by a narrow focus on technological and economic factors and a cross-sectional design that precludes long-term impact assessment. Contribution: Sustainable medical waste disposal is thus extremely critical in order to minimize environmental pollution and also to protect human health, while ensuring the sustainability of the healthcare system.
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