Rural and Urban Biomedical Waste Management System in Murshidabad: A Comparative Study of Khargram Rural Hospital and Kandi Subdivision Hospital

Efficient handling and management of biomedical waste generated in medical sectors is very important for safeguarding human health and the environment. Biomedical waste includes various infectious, hazardous and non-hazardous materials that can create significant problems if it is not disposed of properly. This paper tries to describe biomedical waste management methods practised in rural and urban medical centres in Murshidabad, with a focus on Khargram Rural Hospital and Kandi Subdivision Hospital. The main objectives of this paper are to identify the gap between rural and urban waste management by examining the process to segregate, collect, transport and dispose of the medical waste and to identify the challenges and propose measures to manage these issues by making a healthy environment through the effective functioning of this system. 30 staff members have been selected from both hospitals to conduct the study. A telephonic interview was also conducted for better understanding of the management practices. The findings identified a gap between rural and urban biomedical waste management practices in the study area. Both Khargram Rural Hospital and Kandi Subdivision Hospital are not that efficient in handling the medical waste. But the situation is worse in Khargram Rural Hospital. Regular training, adequate disposal infrastructures, adequate financial support and efficient communication of waste management regulation and guidelines are very necessary for better understanding and development of biomedical waste management procedures in Murshidabad.