Medical waste management in the State of Qatar challenges and opportunities: A review

Abstract

Medical waste generation creates a major concern to health authorities. The State of Qatar represented by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) previously used autoclave and open burning as primary medical waste treatment options. However, changes in medical waste management have increased the focus on minimizing the pollution and health impacts of relevant regulations and practices. In particular, issues related to safety, health and the environment are now receiving increased scrutiny. The rapid urban and infrastructure development, the lack of human resource experienced in medical waste advanced technologies and lack of understanding of benefits of integrated medical waste management system lead to a cumulative impact that hampers the development of integrated medical waste management system in Qatar. Hence, this review collates information from multiple sources to provide critical information on integrated medical waste management system in Qatar. The review presents the current practices, challenges, and opportunities for using both technical and nontechnical approaches in managing hazardous medical wastes in Qatar.

Keywords

• Medical waste
• Waste management systems
• Environmental impact
• Qatar national health strategy
• Hazardous waste