Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the amount of healthcare risk waste generated by health establishments in Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: A healthcare waste management questionnaire was applied in 27 hospitals, and 16 primary health centres and clinics. The total quantity of healthcare risk waste collected in 24 hours in each of these establishments was weighed. Calculations were carried out to get hospitals rate of healthcare risk waste generation and primary healthcare centres risk waste generation. The total national estimate of healthcare risk waste production in kilograms/year for the whole health establishments in the Kingdom was then calculated.
RESULTS: The mean hospital healthcare risk waste rate of generation was 1.13+/-0.96 kg/bed/day. The mean primary healthcare centres and clinics healthcare risk waste rate of generation was 0.08+/-0.08 kg/visitor/day. The estimated mean amount of all healthcare risk waste generated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 25,207 tons/year.
CONCLUSION: Healthcare establishments in Saudi Arabia produce healthcare risk waste. Much care is given by the responsible authorities for the management of that type of waste. A program is being established to formulate standards for healthcare waste management.
- Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal
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