AN ASSESSMENT OF HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present research examined the traditional hospital waste management system
prevailing in the hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Questionnaire technique was used to acquire primary
data in this study. Sixty-five hospitals including fourteen government, seven semi-government and
forty-four private hospitals were randomly selected and visited during October 2016 to January 2017.
The collected data was tabulated in Microsoft Excel 365 and SPSS 22, whereas maps were prepared in
ArcGIS 10.1. Pearson correlation test was performed to check the relation between amount of hospital
waste generation and number of beds. Positive correlation was found between hospital waste
generation and the number of beds available. The results revealed that 43.1% of the surveyed hospitals
had less than 100 beds capacity. 42 % hospitals produced less than 100 Kg waste and 12 % hospitals
produced more than 700 Kg waste per day. 46% hospitals lacked in properly trained staff for waste
handling, 39 % hospitals collected hospital waste on daily basis. Recycling of general waste was
practiced by 68% hospitals, while only five hospital had the facility of incinerator. On overall basis,
HWM practices were found satisfactory as per WHO guidelines in all government hospitals.